CHAPTER ELEVEN.
THE FINGER OF SUSPICION In Chicago Conklin found an angry young man at police headquarters, and the name of this young man was John North.
"This is a most damnable outrage!" he cried hotly the moment he espied Mount Hope's burly sheriff.
"I am mighty sorry to have interfered with your plans, John--just mighty sorry." The sheriff's tone was meant to soothe and conciliate.

"But you see we are counting on you to throw some light on the McBride murder." "So that's it! I tell you, Conklin, I consider that I have been treated with utter discourtesy; I've been a virtual prisoner here over night!" "That's too bad, John," said the sheriff sympathetically, "but we didn't know where a wire would reach you, so there didn't seem any other way than this--" "Well, what do you want with me ?" demanded North, with rather less heat than had marked his previous speech.
"They got the idea back home that you can help in the McBride matter," explained the sheriff again.

"I see that you know he's been murdered." "Yes, I knew that before I left Mount Hope," rejoined North.
"Did you, though ?" said the sheriff briefly, and this admission of North's appeared to furnish him with food for reflection.
"Well, what do I know that will be of use to you ?" asked North impatiently.
"You ain't to make any statement to me, John," returned the sheriff hastily.
"Do you mean you expect me to go back to Mount Hope ?" inquired North in a tone of mingled wonder and exasperation.
The sheriff nodded.
"That's the idea, John," he said placidly.
"What if I refuse to go back ?" The sheriff looked pained.
"Oh, you won't do that--what's the use ?" "Do you mean--" began North savagely, but Conklin interposed.
"Never mind what I mean, that's a good fellow; say you'll take the next train back with me; it will save a lot of, bother!" "But I strongly object to return to Mount Hope!" said North.
"Be reasonable--" urged the sheriff.
"This is an infernal outrage!" cried North.
"I'm sorry, John, but make it easy for me, make it easy for yourself; we'll have a nice friendly trip and you will be back here by the first of the week." For a moment North hesitated.

He had so many excellent reasons why he did not wish to return to Mount Hope, but he knew that there was something back of Mr.Conklin's mild eye and yet milder speech.
"Well, John ?" prompted the sheriff encouragingly.
"I suppose I'll go with you," said North grudgingly.
"Of course you will," agreed the sheriff.
He had never entertained any doubts on this point.
It was ten o'clock Saturday morning when North and the sheriff left the east-bound express at Mount Hope and climbed into the bus that was waiting for them.
North's annoyance had given place to a certain humorous appreciation of the situation.

His plans had gone far astray in the past forty-eight hours, and here he was back in Mount Hope.