“He is a man who would not need much authority to attempt any mean thing,” said the girl hotly.
“That may be true,” admitted Mr. Hammond. “But it seems quite too sensational.” He smiled, adding: “Quite too much like a movie plot, eh?”
“You say yourself that he has obtained the production rights to those ‘Running Deer’ stories that have appeared in the Gotham Magazine,” said Ruth, with earnestness. “They are good stories, Mr. Hammond. I have read them.”
“Yes. I believe they are pretty good material for pictures. That is, if they were handled by a practical scenario writer like yourself.”
“It is too bad you did not get them.”
“Well, Bilby was ahead of us there. Somehow, he got backing and bought the picture and dramatic rights to the tales outright. He can find somebody besides Wonota to play Running Deer.”
“He seems to have set his heart on our Wonota.”
“Yes. He did make Totantora a whacking good offer. I must admit he did. I could not begin to see such a price for the girl’s services. And on a mere speculation. But I pointed out to Totantora that, after all, a promise is only a promise. He and Wonota have already had considerable hard cash from us,” and Mr. Hammond ended with a laugh.
He was evidently not so much impressed by the possible danger of Bilby’s presence in the Thousand Islands as Ruth could have wished. She determined herself, however, to be sharply on the watch for the reappearance of the coarse little fat man who had so troubled her and the Indians at the Red Mill.
She took Totantora into her confidence, after speaking to Mr. Hammond, although she did not say a word to Wonota. Despite the natural stoicism of the Osage maiden, Ruth did not know but that Wonota might become nervous if she knew the plotting Bilby was near at hand.