“It is my name, all right,” returned the president of the Alectrion Corporation. “And I don’t expect any row. What do you want—and that fellow behind you?”
Horatio Bilby grinned rather sheepishly. “Well, you know, Mr. Hammond, all’s fair in love and war.”
“This is certainly not love,” said the moving picture man. “Now, what do you both want?”
“You are ordered to bring two people into court,” said the deputy sheriff, “and show cause why they shouldn’t be handed over to Mr. Bilby pending certain proceedings to break their contract with you.”
“Blunt enough,” admitted Mr. Hammond, but without excitement. “Let’s see: You have a paper of some kind, I suppose, to serve on me?”
“I’ve a summons for you,” said the officer, drawing forth some papers, “and I propose to take the two Indians back to the Bay with me.”
“You can serve me, and I will arrange for my representative to appear for me in your court,” said Hammond. “But Totantora, to whom I suppose you refer, is a citizen of the United States, and you will have to find him to serve him.”
“He’s nothing but an Injun!” squealed Bilby, in wrath.
“Being an Osage Indian, and owning properly surveyed oil lands in Oklahoma, the Government has acknowledged his citizenship,” was the quiet reply. “He certainly is a good American and will doubtless answer to any court demand—if you can serve him legally.”
“You got him hid away somewhere?” demanded the deputy sheriff.