A dust down the road caught Curtis's attention. "The mail will soon be in and then we will see how all this affects the press of the State; the Chicago dailies will not reach us for a couple of days yet."
"Send the papers over here, please!" cried Elsie, "I'm wild to see them."
"Why not all assemble at 'the parsonage' and I'll bring them there?"
"Very well; that will do as well," she replied. "It will be such a joy to read our obituaries."
As he entered the library with his armful of papers a half-hour later Curtis exclaimed: "Well, now, here is a feast! The commotion on the outside is prodigious. Here are the Copper City and Alta papers, and a dozen lesser 'lights and signals of progress' in the State. Help yourselves." He took out a handful of letters and telegrams. "And here are the prayers of anxious relatives. A telegram for you, Miss Brisbane; and two for you, Lawson."
Elsie's message from her father was brief. "Have no word from you; am en route for Pinon City. Not finding you there will cross to agency at once. Why do you not come out?"
Looking at the date she said: "Papa is coming; he is probably on his way to the agency at this moment."
Curtis looked a little troubled. "I hope not; the roads are dusty and the sun is hot."
"By George! this is fierce stuff," said Parker, looking up from his paper.
"Cut Finger has left the hill," announced Jennie from the door-way; "he is nowhere to be seen."