As for Vance, he remained skillfully in the background that day. It was peculiarly vital, this day of all days, that he should not be much in evidence. No one must see in him a controlling influence.
In the meantime he watched his sister with a growing admiration and with a growing concern. Instantly she had a problem on her hands. For the moment Terence heard that the great sheriff himself had joined the party, he was filled with happiness. Vance watched them meet with a heart swelling with happiness and surety of success. Straight through a group came Terry, weaving his way eagerly, and went up to the sheriff. Vance saw Elizabeth attempt to detain him, attempt to send him on an errand. But he waved her suggestion away for a moment and made for the sheriff. Elizabeth, seeing that the meeting could not be avoided, at least determined to be present at it. She came up with Terence and presented him.
"Sheriff Minter, this is Terence Colby."
"I've heard of you, Colby," said the sheriff kindly. And he waited for a response with the gleaming eye of a vain man. There was not long to wait.
"You've really heard of me?" said Terry, immensely pleased. "By the Lord,
I've heard of you, sheriff! But, of course, everybody has."
"I dunno, son," said the sheriff benevolently. "But I been drifting around a tolerable long time, I guess."
"Why," said Terry, with a sort of outburst, "I've simply eaten up everything I could gather. I've even read about you in magazines!"
"Well, now you don't say," protested the sheriff. "In magazines?"
And his eye quested through the group, hoping for other listeners who might learn how broadly the fame of their sheriff was spread.
"That Canning fellow who travelled out West and ran into you and was along while you were hunting down the Garrison boys. I read his article."