“If it wasn’t for leaving Miss Judith and her father here alone—”
The Sheriff comprehended the generalities of Spears’s plan immediately. He whirled on Judith.
“Where’s Cissy, Judy?” he asked.
“I—I don’t know. She——”
Trowbridge plunged down the passageway. In a moment he returned, leading the half-dead old negress.
“Listen, Judy; you say you heard Buchanan take your horse?”
The girl nodded, her face hidden in her arms.
“Cissy, you take care o’ Mr. Bilney. Judy girl, get yoreself together and ride Buchanan’s horse to the nearest telephone. ’Phone the airdrome at McMullen, and tell ’em to send Doc Spurgin up here by ship to tend to yore daddy—I believe the doc can save him. Spears and I’ll take after this coyote, and mebbe we can find him.”
He looked at Spears, and for the first time noticed the change in him. Glowing eyes, body like a coiled spring—he gave an impression of leashed power waiting eagerly to be unbound.
“Let’s be about it,” he said briefly.