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For three days and nights thereafter he kept his secret and added to his strength Doctor Cardigan came in to see hiularly every afternoon Mercer was his s happened to create a little excitean left on a four-day journey to a settlee--and Mooie caain The first event filled Kent with joy With Cardigan out of the way there would be no ier a sickhe had received about the head that delighted Mercer He was exultant With the quick reaction of his kind he gloated over the fact before Kent He let it be known that he was no longer afraid, and froer his attitude was such thathie of Doctor Cardigan's place, Mercer began to sith ian to humor hi shaan had not taken him into partnership He deserved it And, in justice to hian returned He, Kent, would talk to Father Layonne about it, and theothers ere influential at the Landing For two days he played with Mercer as an angler plays with a treacherous fish He tried to get Mercer to discover more about Mooie's reference to Kedsty But the old Indian had shut up like a clas about the Inspector," Mercer reported "He disavowed everything He shook his head--no, no, no He had not seen Kedsty He knew nothing about hi with him, Kent"

He had dropped his "sirs," also his servant-like servility He helped to sars with the intimacy of proprietorship, and with offensive freedom called him "Kent" He spoke of the Inspector as "Kedsty," and of Father Layonne as "the little preacher" He swelled perceptibly, and Kent knew that each hour of that swelling added to his own danger

He believed that Mercer was talking Several tiuard, and not infrequently Mercer went down to the Landing, twirling a little reed cane that he had not dared to use before He began to drop opinions and information to Kent in a superior sort of way On the fourth day word caht hours, and with unblushing conceit Mercer inties Then it was that in the stupidity of his egotisreat fancy to ht Had ether When I told hi through a lot of exercises, he juht he was sick--BAD!' he said And I let hi a sick an's 'Give theued 'Look at Kent, for instance,' I told hi like a bear for a week, and he can turn somersaults this minute!' That topped him over, Kent I kneould be a bit of a surprise for hian couldn't do He walked back and forth, black as a hat--thinking of Cardigan, I suppose Then he called in that Pelly chap and gave hi which he wrote on a piece of paper After that he shook hands with ave ar He's a keen old blade, Kent He doesn't need an went away!"