"Yes, the sheriff is on the way."
"Is Crane still asleep?"
"Yes. He didn't wait for grub; he dropped like a log and is dead to the world."
"Poor chap! I shouldn't have sent him on this last trip. Where is Tony?"
"Tony's out in the hills to keep an eye on Cut Finger. Will you go after him to-night?"
"No, not till morning. The police will locate him and stay with him to-night, and to-morrow morning I will go out and get him myself. I don't want any shooting, if it can be avoided. What is it, Heavybreast?" he asked of a large Tetong who entered at the moment, his eyes bright with information.
"White man coming," signed the redman.
Curtis rose and went to the door and looked down the road.
Three carriages were passing the issue-house—one a rather pretentious family surrey, the others ordinary mountain wagons. In the hinder seat of the surrey, and beside the sheriff, sat a gray-haired man.
"It is Senator Brisbane!" said Curtis to Wilson, and a keen pang of anticipated loss came to him, for he knew that Brisbane had come to take his daughter away. But his face was calm as he went down to the gate to meet his distinguished and powerful enemy.