Jennie and Elsie discussed the situation while sitting at the library window with a view of the agency front door.
"I can't for the life of me take a serious view of this episode," said Jennie. "These cowboys wouldn't be so foolish as to fire a first shot. They are like big, country school-boys."
"The Parkers!" cried Elsie, suddenly. "Where are the Parkers?"
Jennie gasped. "True enough! I had forgotten all about them. I don't believe they have got back from their ride."
"They will be scared blue. We must send for them."
"I'll have Crane's Voice go at once," said Jennie. "I will go with him."
"Don't do that—not without letting the Captain know. How far is it?"
"Just over the hill—not more than five miles."
But even as she was hurrying across to the corral to find an angel for this mission of mercy, she saw the Parkers coming down the hill-side, moving slowly, for both were very bad riders. It was plain they had heard nothing, and as she watched them approach Jennie cried:
"Don't say a word. They won't see anything suspicious."