Thunder Bird broke his silence long enough to grunt his approval of this proposed action.
“You and Tony will be going with Ames,” Kelsey stated. “Our party will go back the way you came, Johnny. Guess we’d better take Kent’s body with us. Where’ll we find it?”
“In that little park of cedars soon after you start downhill.”
“Wal, we’ll git goin’ out of hyar,” Ames announced. “What about you, chief? Better trail along.”
Thunder Bird shook his head.
“Suit yoreself. So-long, boys.”
Gallup, gloomy and sullen, got to his feet; the parties separated and soon lost sight of each other.
“Never seen trouble come yit when the agent wuz home,” the trader grumbled as they mounted their horses. “Reckon this is about Thunder Bird’s last good time.”
CHAPTER XXXIII
FULFILLMENT
Johnny found Molly sitting on the steps of the trader’s house when he arrived at the Agency. Her face was proof enough of the worry and excitement she had undergone. The boy’s heart sank as he realized that he had to hurt her still more by the news he carried. Delay the telling as long as he might, the truth had to be faced.