“Just the man I would have selected. Have him report to me as soon as he can get ready.”
Lund saluted and withdrew. The colonel went into the house.
“What in the world is the matter?” clamored Mrs. Colonel. “It must be something mighty important, colonel, to keep you from supper. We’ve been waiting for you for half an hour.”
“Business first, supper afterward,” said the colonel.
“What’s wrong?”
“Renegade bucks have jumped the reservation at Fort Apache, that’s all.”
Mrs. Colonel was all in a twitter in an instant.
“Not Geronimo?” she fluttered. “Don’t tell me that Geronimo has——”
“What’s Geronimo but a scoundrelly, skulking red ruffian? He’s no more to be feared than any other renegade.”
But the very name of Geronimo carried with it a terror for Mrs. Colonel. She clasped her hands convulsively and collapsed into a chair.