“Looks that way just now,” said Jennings, wrinkling his brow. “We might think of something later. How about the outlaw? Do we get him first?”
“That’s the question. We’ll have to wait and see. May get another message later. In the meantime, let’s turn in early and get a start to-morrow before daybreak. The importance of our mission to the north has been greatly increased.”
CHAPTER XXI
A TENSE SITUATION
If Curlie’s knees trembled as he heard the heavy bar being lifted from the door, there was no trace of emotion on his face when at last the door swung open and he stood facing his three captors.
“Welcome in,” he smiled, coolly. “I was just thinking of calling you.
“You see,” he explained, “I’ve just been talking to your old friend McGregor of the U. S. Service.”
The men started back to stare about the small room, as if suspecting that the deputy was hidden somewhere within.
“He’s not here,” smiled Curlie, who in spite of the grave danger which confronted him was enjoying the situation. “I was just speaking to him over the phone.”
“Phone!” The half-breed whispered the words.
It was evident that the trio were more bewildered than before. They had seen telephones and telephone wires in centers of civilization which they had visited. They knew what they were; knew, too, that there was not a yard of telephone wire within three hundred miles of their cabin. As for a telephone, had they not built this cabin? How then could it contain a telephone without their knowing it?