"A message for you," said the operator, and handed it over.
It was from Washington and stated: "The Oklahoma bill is now before the Lower House; wait for more news."
"I'm glad we've woke up those politicians at Washington," murmured the scout, and then wrote out a telegram in reply.
There was now nothing to do but to wait, and impatient as he was to rejoin the boomers, Pawnee Brown had to content himself until another message should reach him. To make the time pass more quickly the great scout went around to a number of places buying supplies that were much needed.
An hour later he found himself on the outskirts of the city, whence he had come to look up several wagons, to replace some that had broken down. He was galloping along on horseback when the sight of two men quarreling near the open doorway of a deserted barn caught his eye, and impelled by something which was more than curiosity, he turned in from the road to see how the quarrel might end. As he came closer he saw that one of the men was Mortimer Arbuckle!
"Hullo, what can this mean?" he cried, softly. "I thought Dick's father was still in bed from the effects of that dastardly night's work. Who can that stranger be?"
Dismounting, he tied Bonnie Bird to a tree and came forward, but in line with the barn, that he might not be seen. Soon he was within easy hearing distance of all that was being said.
"I want to know what brought you out here, Dike Powell?" he heard Mr. Arbuckle say in excited tones. "Did you follow me?"
"No, I did not, Arbuckle," came in reply. "What makes you think I did?"
"I was knocked down and robbed but a few nights ago, and my most valuable papers, as well as my money, were taken from me."