"Put me off! By ——, I think I see you doing that! Why, the whole State would rise and wipe you and your tribe out of existence." He turned threateningly and towered over Curtis, who was seated.
"Be quiet, and keep your distance, or I'll put you in irons! Sit down!"
These words were not spoken loudly, but they caused the sheriff's face to blanch and his knees to tremble. There was a terrifying, set glare in the officer's eyes as he went on:
"What do you suppose would be the consequences of firing upon a captain of the United States army in the discharge of his duty, by a sheriff acting outside the law? You have only three men out there, and one of them is my friend, and you know the quality of Calvin Streeter. I am still in command of this reservation, Mr. Sheriff."
Lawson re-entering at this moment, Curtis said: "Ask Streeter to come in, will you, Mr. Lawson?"
Calvin entered smilingly. "Well, what's the up-shot?" he asked.
"It is this, Calvin. The sheriff has no warrant for anybody, not even for a suspect. I have asked him to go back and wait till I can find some clew to the murderer. Do you consider that reasonable?"
"It sounds fair," admitted Calvin, growing grave.
"Now the question of whether the State or county authority covers a federal reservation or not is too big a question for us to settle. You see that, Calvin?"
Calvin scratched his head. "It sure is too many fer me."