it happened? Feller wouldn't stop long
enough to explain to us." The man's gaze was full of inquisitiveness and
the others crowded around to listen.

But with self-repression truly admirable Parker told them that he had no
news to give out concerning Colonel Ward, of any nature whatsoever.
He ordered the driver of the tote-team to whip up and rode away toward
Sunkhaze, leaving the men gaping after him.

He observed the same reticence at the settlement, tho he was received
with a demonstration that was something like an ovation.

Although his better sense told him that the men were justified in
preserving neutrality at the time of the raid, yet he could not rid
himself of the very human feeling of resentment because they had
surrendered him so readily into the hands of his adversaries. But the
chief influence that prompted silence was the fear lest details of his
mishap and the reasons therefor would get into the newspapers to the
annoyance of his employers.

"I am back and the work is going on just as tho nothing had happened,"
he said to the men who crowded into the office of the tavern to
congratulate him. "Matters have been straightened out and the less talk
that's made the better."

But the postmaster, presuming on more intimate acquaintance, followed
him up to his room, where his effects had been carefully preserved for
him.

"I reckoned you'd get back some time," said Dodge. "I've predicted that
much. But, I swanny, I didn't look for you to come back with your tail
over the dasher, as you've done. That is, I didn't look for you to come
that way not until that feller blew in here to telegraft for a doctor
for old Gid. Then I see that it was him that was got done up instead of
you. But speakin' of telegraftin', there ain't no word gone out from
here as yit about the hoorah--not a word."

"Do you mean that Sunkhaze has kept the Swamp Swogon affair and my
kidnapping quiet?" demanded Parker, his face lighting up. He had been
fearing what might have gone out to the world about the affair.

"A good many was all of a to-do to telegraft it to the sheriff and to
your bosses," said the postmaster calmly. "But it seemed better to me to
wait a while. I says, 'Look here, neighbors, it's goin' to be some time
before the sheriff can git his crowd together and git at Ward--and even
then there'll be politics to consider. The sheriff won't move anyway
till he gits the word of the Lumbermen's Association. And it'll probably