"Why; that can't be true! He was here less than an hour ago."
"He's just been arrested for assaulting Kitsong."
Helen, still unable to believe in this calamity, stammered: "But I don't understand. When did he—When was Kitsong—assaulted?"
"Last night," replied her visitor, with relish, "and you were the cause of it—in a way."
"I?"
"So the story goes. It seems Abe got nasty about you, and Mr. Hanscom resented it. They had a fight and Abe was hurt. Unless somebody bails him out the poor ranger will have to go to jail."
The memory of the ranger's last look completed Helen's understanding of the situation, and she listened abstractedly while her visitor rattled on:
"Of course, the judge can't do anything, much as he likes Mr. Hanscom, and I really don't see who is to go on his bond. He hasn't any relatives here."
At this point Helen raised her head and interrupted her guest's commiserating comment. "Yes, you can do something for me. I wish you would ask Mr. Willing, the vice-president of the First National Bank, to come over here. I want to consult him on a most important business matter, and I cannot leave my father. Will you do this?"
"Certainly, with pleasure. I was hoping to be of use," said Mrs. Brinkley, and she went away greatly wondering what this strange young woman could possibly want of Mr. Willing.