“Well, something like that,” admitted Johnny with a grin.

“I knew it,” corroborated Collaton.  “I told them when to stop.”

“I guess you’ll be a good witness,” surmised Johnny.  “How deep were you in on this Birchard deal?  How much did you get?”

“Did Gresham and Birchard pull something?” inquired Collaton with such acute interest that Johnny felt sure he had taken no part in that swindle.

“Well, yes,” agreed Johnny with a wince, as he thought of his lost million.  “They did pull a little trick.  Did you know Birchard very well?”

“I wouldn’t say what I know about Birchard except on a witness-stand,” chuckled Collaton, “but I can tell you this much:  if he got anything, throw it a good-by kiss; for he can rub himself out better than any man I ever saw.  He’s practised hiding till he doesn’t know himself where he is half of the time.”

“I’ve passed him up,” stated Johnny.  “The only people I’m after are Gresham and Jacobs and you.”

“I wonder if you wouldn’t pin a medal on one of us if he’d give you the other two,” conjectured Collaton, smoothing his freckled cheek and studying Johnny with his head on one side.

“We’re not coining medals this year,” declared Johnny, “but if it’s you you’re talking about, and you’ll give me Gresham and Jacobs, I’ll promise you a chance to stand outside the bars and look in at them.”

“It’s a bet,” decided Collaton promptly.  “I split up with Gresham two or three weeks ago at Coney Island, when he wanted me to go in on a big scheme against you, and I suppose it was this Birchard stunt.  I told him I’d had enough.  Your money began to look troublesome to me.  That was the day you were down there with the girl.”

“There’s no girl in this,” warned Johnny.  “Now tell me just what you can do.”

“Will you wipe me off the slate?”

“Clean as a whistle,” promised Johnny.  “If my lawyer lets you be convicted I’ll go to jail in your place.”

“It’s like getting over-change by mistake,” gratefully returned Collaton.  “I’m tired of the game, Johnny, and if I can get out of this I’ll stay straight the balance of my life.”

“You’ll die in the top tier, with the pentitentiary chaplain writing your farewell letters,” prophesied Johnny.  “What did you say you could do?”

“Well, I can incriminate not only Jacobs but Gresham in those phoney attachments, and I can hand you the Gamble-Collaton books,” set forth Collaton.  “Gresham got them away from me to take care of and then held them over me as a threat; but I got them back yesterday by offering to pound his head off.  He’s a bigger coward than I am.”

“How much money did you say you wanted?” inquired Johnny.

“Five thousand,” returned Collaton cheerfully.

“You said two.”

“I have to have two and I need the rest.  I thought maybe I could sell you my interest in The Gamble-Collaton Irrigation Company.  There’s several thousand acres of land out there, you know.”