“I’ve risked my life to come to you,” he said, with pretended earnestness. “Please hurry,” he urged; “for I’m in danger every minute we delay.”
One of his men slipped to the ground.
“We haven’t a sidesaddle to offer you,” said Panther Pete to her, “but this will do; and you’re a good rider.”
“Oh, I can ride well enough,” she declared. “So father thinks I ought to ride out to the claim to-night? It seems strange; and stranger still that Mr. Denton should ride on in advance. I should have thought he would wait for me.”
“He had to take a message in a hurry,” lied the pretended Buffalo Bill.
“I’ll go,” she assented; “just wait for me a minute.”
She ran back into the house, and when she reappeared a woman came with her.
“It’s too bad to take a ride like that in the night,” said this woman; “and for my part I don’t think Ellen is in a bit of danger here. I think she oughtn’t go.”
“But if father says for me to?” she objected.
“He’s scared at nothing, so far as you’re concerned. There ain’t a soul in this town would hurt you, Ellen.”