They walked immediately to the court-house, and were soon closeted
together.
"Now look here, Keeler, if you're going to play detective, you don't
want to hang out a sign, 'John Keeler, Detective.' There's blood in your
eye. Any crook could spot you a block away."
Keeler laughed, and looked rather sheepish.
"Well," he said, "there's no harm done, I reckon. Those fellows are
probably a thousand miles from here by this time."
"What makes you think so?" asked Carter. "They may be right here in
Nevada City. Some of those fellows can throw a perfect bluff on a pair
of two-spots."
"Well, Carter, I thank you for your suggestion. After this, I'll be
careful. That is, I'll appear to be careless. I haven't any inkling as
to where those thugs are, and I've come to you to get some points."
"I don't blame you a bit, Keeler, for wanting to look into this affair.
Cummins was your partner once; and a better man never lived in Nevada
County. I hope to God I can string up the men who killed him. Just step
in here."
In an ante-room Carter had set up two straw men dressed in the discarded
clothes of the highwaymen.
"Of course, this ain't going to help much," explained Carter,
deprecatingly.
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