“I’m afraid you’re right,” was the other’s answer. “But I’m sure glad my old man isn’t mixed up in it any more than he is. I s’pose you want me to go back and stick around home? Don’t want to much—things are more’n likely going to happen round here and I’d like to be on the job.”
“Yes,” said Bob, “I do. I don’t think you’ll have to stay there long because if anything happens it’ll happen quick. After that I don’t think even your dad will be against your doing what you want.”
“But what about Jerry?” asked Ted. “Has he come back?”
“He’s been back twice,” said Bob, “and I don’t know what to make of it.”
He told Ted of the happening at the foot of the cable tower.
“Don’t let him fool you,” said Ted when he had listened to the end of the story. “Jerry’s mixed up in this as sure as shooting, and he’s putting on that careless attitude just as a blind.”
“I’m afraid you’re right, Ted,” said Bob. “But I sure hate to think it.”
They had covered quite a lot of ground while talking and now Ted spoke.
“Don’t come any further. Beat it back. I reckon we’ve told each other everything we know. Good night. I’ll come back again as soon as I hear anything new.”
Bob started to retrace his steps but he had not gone far before he was aware that soft footsteps were following him. He turned in his tracks and stood still. A moment later the Indian he had befriended the night before slipped up beside him.