"Arthur always could talk," smiled Danvers, "and I can—with my friends."
"How is Burroughs getting along?" asked the doctor, as the trader passed them, too absorbed, apparently, in the recollection of his meeting with Miss Thornhill to note either them or Pine Coulee, who followed him.
"Remarkably well, from a financial standpoint. His living with a squaw makes him popular with the Indians, and the colonel swears by him—thinks he's perfect."
"And the trade in whiskey?"
Latimer shrugged his shoulders expressively.
"That's Bob's squaw," said Arthur, after an awkward pause. "She's as proud as a peacock of that papoose. She rather lords it over her former associates of the lodges."
The doctor whistled. He knew Pine Coulee's story, but had not heard of the child. "Bob will want to marry some day," was his sole comment. "Has Me-Casto ever been caught?"
"No. When he does turn up, Robert Burroughs may look out for trouble."
"Why did Toe String Joe leave the Force?" asked the doctor presently. "He has been in Fort Benton for some little time."
"Drummed out of the service. But he wouldn't tell who supplied him with the whiskey. What is he doing now?"