taken seats at the other end
of the table and dutifully engaged in low-toned conversation.

"That is a hard question for me to answer, General," was the answer. "I
have no right to suspect anybody. We had no time to complete the
investigation. There are many hangers-on, you know, about Hay's store,
and indeed, his house. Then his household, too, has been increased, as
perhaps you did not know. Mrs. Hay's niece--a very brilliant young
woman--is visiting them, and she and Field rode frequently together."

The general's face was a study. The keen eyes were reading Dade as a
skilled physician would interpret the symptoms of a complicated case.
"How old--and what is she like, Dade?" he asked.

"The women can answer that better than I, sir. They say she must be
twenty-four;--Mrs. Hay says nineteen--She is very dark and very
handsome--at times. Most of our young men seem to think so, at least.
She certainly rides and dances admirably, and Mr. Field was constantly
her partner."

The general began to see light. "Field was constantly with her, was he?
Riding just by themselves or with others when they went out?" he asked.

"By themselves, sir. I doubt if any other of our equestriennes would
care to ride at her pace. She rather outstrips them all. The major told
me they seemed to go--well, every time he saw them, at least,--up to
Stabber's village, and that was something he disapproved of, though I
dare say she was simply curious to see an Indian village, as an Eastern
girl might be."

"Possibly," said the general. "And what did you tell me--she is Mrs.
Hay's niece? I don't remember _his_ having any niece when they were at
Laramie in '66, though I knew something of Mrs. Hay, who was then but a
short time married. She spoke Sioux and _patois_ French better than
English in those days. What is the young lady's name?"

"Miss Flower, sir. Nanette Flower."

The chief dropped his head on his hand and reflected. "It's a good
twenty years, and I've been knocking about all over the West since then,
but, I'd like to see Mrs. Hay and that young woman, Dade, whether we
overhaul Bill or not. I must go on to Beecher at once."

"You will wait for the cavalry from Laramie, will you not, sir?" asked
the captain, anxiously.

"I can't. I'll get a bath and breakfast and forty winks later; then see
Mrs. Hay and Bill, if he is back. They ought to catch him before he
reaches Sage Creek. There are your couriers now," he added, at the sound
of