Leonard Lester had no means of knowing when morning arrived, save by consulting his watch. The light of day could not penetrate into that dismal place. The hours of six, seven, and eight o’clock came, and a lantern that Snags had left shed its feeble rays with dim steadiness. Leonard grew weary and impatient, but still his opportunity for meditation was uninterrupted. He chafed under his confinement, and was oppressed by the utter silence and loneliness that reigned. But he had only to wait.

He knew that Colonel Conrad had been murdered; he was conscious that the circumstances were likely to involve Carlos in some way; but of the exact form or extent of the danger that threatened his cousin, he was ignorant. He longed to be free, so as to offer him aid.

Could he have seen and foreseen all that was taking and was destined to take place, he would have blessed the stars that made him a prisoner.

About the middle of the forenoon he heard a noise at the door. It was soon opened, and a frowzy-looking man entered. He was short, thickset, with uncombed hair and beard, and blear eyes. His face was infinitely more ferocious and devilish in its expression than that of Snags. He was dressed in common, rough garments, and was armed with a pistol and a knife. The door was closed after him, and, advancing, he scrutinized the prisoner.

“Captain Jeremiah Roake, at your service,” he finally said. “Your name?”

“Leonard Lester,” replied the prisoner.

“Correct. Now we know each other. My stay must be short, for Icome simply to ask you a question. What is it about this infernal piece of paper that Snags has been blowing about?”

“Idon’t know,” said Leonard. “What are you talking about?”

“Snags must have asked you for it. Tell me what he said.”

“Ihave nothing to tell. What do you suppose Iknow about it? You are aware that Snags captured the wrong man when he took me. Find the right one, and seek the information of him.”

“Ibelieve that you are lying—that you know more than you will tell.”

“Ican’t help what you believe. Search me, if you wish, and see if you can find anything you want.”

Roake paused, apparently, in doubt what course to pursue. At last he said:

“Well, your cousin has been arrested. The whole town thinks him guilty of murdering Colonel Conrad. He is to be examined, and then he will probably show it.”

“Show what?”

“The paper, if he has any.”

“Very well, let him. Idon’t see what harm can come to him, or what good to you, by his showing any paper he is likely to have. At all events, you will not gain anything by bothering me about it.”

Leonard was not in the slightest degree disposed to violate the promise he had given to Snags. He did not care to have Roake know that the fragment supposed to be in the possession of Carlos was of any value. But Roake’s words awoke in him a feeling of concern.

If what Snags had said was true, then indeed would the murderer have just the information he wanted in the event of Carlos making public the contents of the missing fragment.

At that instant he wondered if he could not convey a caution to Carlos in some way. But he did not betray these thoughts to Roake. Despite the fact that his brain was suddenly beset by a new train of reflection, he maintained his indifferent air.

Roake finally turned to go saying:

“If he does show it, I’ll know what there is of it. Iread the papers.”

Leonard called him back.

“Ishould like to get a message to my cousin, in some way. I’ll give you ten dollars if you will have it delivered.”

“Ten dollars!” contemptuously. “That’s nothing to me, young man. Imade a haul of a thousand last night. No, you shall send no message to him!”

Roake refused to listen to the urgent appeal that Leonard was about to make, but went from the apartment quickly and left the prisoner alone.

“This affair grows in mystery,” thought Leonard. “Where amI, and who are these ruffians to whom intelligence of the arrest of Carlos comes so quickly? There must be some secret villainy going on right under the very shadows of orderly society. I’ll find out all Ican about it.”

He then reflected long and intently, striving to devise some plan of conveying a message to Carlos. That his captors could serve him in this way, if they chose, he was convinced. It was evident that they had some means of quick communication with Dalton, else how could they so soon have learned that Carlos had been taken into custody? But he was equally sure that they would not permit him to send any message that would expose or implicate themselves, or put Carlos on his guard. Still he was powerless without their aid, and must contrive some way to bribe or deceive them. The former, he felt would be impossible; the latter might be accomplished.

In the midst of his thoughts the door was again opened, and Roake thrust in a plate of food and a can of water. This done, he quickly withdrew and closed the door.

The sight of the food reminded Leonard that he was hungry, though his occupation of mind had prevented him from thinking of it before. He ate of the coarse fare, and afterward took a cigar from his pocket and lit it.

He felt refreshed and strengthened, and his mind became more clear and active. Reclining on the pile of rough bed-clothes which lay in one corner of the apartment, he smoked and pondered.

At length his countenance was illumined by a sudden thought.

“Ihave it!” he exclaimed.

He forthwith took a number of letters from his pocket. Afew were from Europe, his business relations having led him to engage in foreign correspondence, and were written in the German language. He selected one which occupied about two pages and a half.

Then, taking a gold pen and a portable inkstand from another pocket, he composed himself to write. He reflected for some moments before beginning, for he wished to comprise as much intelligence as possible within a few words.

Having arranged his thoughts into satisfactory shape, he began. First erasing the signature of the letter, he wrote an apparent continuation, in the German language, on the lower blank half of the third page. To this he appended another signature, so that the letter looked, in its new form, like a complete whole.

“So far so good,” he murmured; “and now for a visit from Snags. It won’t do to approach Roake. Snags, if anybody, will do the small favor Ishall ask.”

The day wore wearily on. There was absolutely nothing to relieve the tedium of the passing hours. Leonard alternately walked, lay down, endeavored to sleep, and examined his prison. He fumed in impotent irritation at the sense of confinement.

Not until the day was gone, and the hands of his watch indicated the hour of nine in the evening, was he disturbed again.

This time his hopes were realized. Snags was his visitor.

“Have you heard anything more from Carlos?” asked Leonard, eagerly.

Snags smiled.

“You seem mighty anxious about him,” he said.

“Of course Iam. Tell me all you know.”

“Oh, Iknow enough. Ihave heard several things. Some of them might not please you, though.”

“Never mind. Go on.”

“Well,” said Snags, “he’s in jail, and will be tried to-morrow. Everybody is aroused against him, and if he’s let off the people would lynch him; at least that’s the talk among some. But it isn’t likely that he’ll be let off. Another thing, people have got it into their heads that you were his pal in the murder, which was done for burglary, and that you made off with the spoils, and that he knows where you are.”

“What consummate absurdity.”

“Oh, no. Things look that way. The evidence will show that it’s not unlikely. Idon’t know but that it would be a good plan to take you out of here and drop you somewhere where you’d be sure to be caught, and then both of you would go to prison, or something worse.”

“No,” said Lester, “that wouldn’t work. Iwas at Rocky Beach until one o’clock in the morning. The man that attends to the boats could testify to that.”

“Rocky Beach!” exclaimed Snags, with a peculiar look of surprise. Then he added: “But the man that ’tends the boats is deaf and dumb. He’d be a nice one to testify.”

“So Iobserved. But he could write his testimony.”

“How do you know?”

“Isuppose he can write.”

“Well, perhaps he can,” said Snags, with a furtive smile.

“But can’t he?”

“What do you suppose Iknow about him?” Then, changing his tone, Snags said: “But there’s no use in talking about that. Iguess, after all, we will keep you here for a while. By the way, your cousin has engaged a good lawyer.”

“Who?”

“Royalton—Charles H. Royalton—a mighty sharp fellow, they say. If there is any loop-hole, he’ll pull him through. But Idon’t think there is any.”

“You don’t?”

“No; the case is strong against him.”

“See here, Mr.Snags,” said Leonard, “Iwould like to know how you keep so well posted about matters in Dalton. Ishouldn’t think you would dare show yourself there.”

“Why not? Perhaps Idon’t—but never you mind. You mustn’t be too curious.”

There was a lull in the conversation.

Leonard now made up his mind that the time had come to make his appeal.

“Snags,” he said, earnestly, “Iwant you to do a favor for me—two favors, in fact. It is intolerably dull in here. Iwant something to occupy my mind. Can’t you bring me a newspaper once in a while? Bring me the papers containing accounts of the trial. Ishould like to read about it. I’ll pay you well.”

“Idon’t know but Imight do that,” replied Snags. “Yes, Iwill.”

“Thank you. And now another thing. My cousin is a nervous young fellow, easily discouraged, and all that. Won’t you take a message to him from me?”

Snags’ countenance instantly assumed a forbidding look.

“Not much of a message,” continued Leonard, urgently, “only a few words. You may see me write them.”

Snags hesitated.

“Nothing that can do you any harm or afford a hint as to where Iam.”

“What do you want to send it for, then?”

“Only to let him know that Iam alive. That might do him some good.”

“Well,” said Snags, slowly and doubtfully, “let me see what you want to write.”

Leonard drew the letters from his pocket, and, selecting one, apparently at random, tore off a piece, one side of which was blank. It is needless to say that it was the portion on which he had previously written his message in German.

“This old letter is of no use,” he said, crumpling the other half in his hand and throwing it on the floor.

Snags picked it up, and glanced at it idly. He saw it was in a language he did not understand.

“Dutch?” he asked.

“Yes,” replied Leonard. “Iam, or was, connected with an importing house in New York.”

“Queer writing, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” replied Leonard.

He was apparently absorbed in preparing his message, but he was really in the utmost trepidation lest his ruse should be detected.

But Snags had no suspicions. He threw the portion of the letter on the floor again, and waited patiently.

The following was what Leonard submitted to him:

“Iam a prisoner, but unharmed. Ihave learned of your situation, and pray that you may be safely delivered from it. Do not concern yourself about me. Iam guarded closely, but treated well enough. Iam helpless to serve you.

L. L.”

Snags read it carefully.

“Idon’t see anything objectionable about that,” he said. He gave a cursory glance at the other side, and saw that it was covered with German characters. “Yes, I’ll deliver it, or see it delivered. Perhaps Ihad better put it in the post-office. Icould do it secretly, and no one would know where it came from.”

“If you do that, direct it like this: ‘To Carlos Conrad, or his attorney, Charles H. Royalton.’ Then it will be sure to reach its destination.”

“Yes.”

“And do it as soon as possible.”

“Iwill.”

“Thanks. And now take this.”

He extended to Snags a five-dollar gold piece, which was accepted.

“Mind,” said Snags, “that you don’t say anything of this to Roake. Iknow it can’t hurt us any, but he’s as contrary as a mule.”

“I’ll be silent,” said Leonard.

“Here’s some more victuals,” said Snags, producing a slice of cold meat and a loaf of bread; “and something to cheer you up,” drawing from his pocket a bottle of wine.

“Thank you, Snags; you’re very kind. You will lose nothing by it.”

Snags opened the door to leave; but, before withdrawing, he turned his head and said, in a low tone:

“See here, Mr.Lester, the colonel is the first man Iever stuck, and I’m blamed if Iain’t kept awake nights thinking about it.”

In another instant he was gone.