want to see Pawnee Brown." It was Dan Gilbert, who was making his way
through the crowd to the great scout's side. Gilbert held a message from
Arkansas City. It was to the effect that Pawnee Brown should telegraph
to Washington at once and wait until noon at Arkansas City for a reply.

Five minutes later Pawnee Brown was on the trail over which the wagon
train had journeyed the night before. He had told Gilbert, Clemmer and
the others of the nearness of the Government cavalrymen and had advised
a halt until further orders from himself. Clemmer had promised to wait,
although ready "ter swoop down on 'em, b' gosh, an' take wot belongs
ter us," as he expressed himself.

The ride back to Arkansas City was an uneventful one, and arriving
there, Pawnee Brown lost no time in visiting the telegraph office.

"A message for you," said the operator, and handed it over.

It was from Washington and stated: "The Oklahoma bill is now before the
Lower House; wait for more news."

"I'm glad we've woke up those politicians at Washington," murmured the
scout, and then wrote out a telegram in reply.

There was now nothing to do but to wait, and impatient as he was to
rejoin the boomers, Pawnee Brown had to content himself until another
message should reach him. To make the time pass more quickly the great
scout went around to a number of places buying supplies that were much
needed.

An hour later he found himself on the outskirts of the city, whence he
had come to look up several wagons, to replace some that had broken
down. He was galloping along on horseback when the sight of two men
quarreling near the open doorway of a deserted barn caught his eye, and
impelled by something which was more than curiosity, he turned in from
the road to see how the quarrel might end. As he came closer he saw
that one of the men was Mortimer Arbuckle!

"Hullo, what can this mean?" he cried, softly. "I thought Dick's father
was still in bed from the effects of that dastardly night's work. Who
can that stranger be?"

Dismounting, he tied Bonnie Bird to a tree and came forward, but in line
with the barn, that he might not be seen. Soon he was within easy
hearing distance of all that was being said.

"I want to know what brought you out here, Dike Powell?" he heard Mr.
Arbuckle say in excited tones. "Did you follow me?"

"No, I did not, Arbuckle," came in reply. "What makes you think I did?"

"I was knocked down and robbed but a few nights ago,