came to him overwhelmingly
that here was the murder mystery stalking between them once more, like a
ghost. He recalled Talpers's broad hint that Helen knew something of the
case, and that if Bill Talpers were dragged into the Dollar Sign affair
the girl at the Greek Letter Ranch would be dragged in also.

"There is no need of the outside world knowing anything about this,"
went on Helen. "The Indian police do not report to any one but you, do
they?"

"No. Their lips are sealed so far as their official duties are
concerned."

"Fire Bear will have nothing to say?"

"He has probably forgotten it by this time in his religious fervor."

"Then I ask you to let these men go."

"If you will not appear against them," said Lowell, "I can't see that
anything will be gained by bringing them in. But probably it would be a
good thing to exterminate them on the tenable ground that they are
general menaces to the welfare of society."

The girl's troubled expression returned.

"On one condition I will send word to Talpers that he may return," went
on Lowell. "That condition is that you rescind your order excluding me
from the Greek Letter Ranch. If Talpers comes back I've got to be
allowed to drop around to see that you are not spirited away."

CHAPTER XII

Talpers was back in his store in two days. Lowell sent word that the
trader might return. At first Talpers was hesitant and suspicious. There
was a lurking fear in his mind that the agent had some trick in view,
but, as life took its accustomed course, Bill resumed his domineering
attitude about the store. A casual explanation that he had been buying
some cattle was enough to explain his absence.

Bill's recent experiences had caused him to regard the agent with new
hatred, not unmixed with fear. The obvious thing for Lowell to have done
was to have rushed more men on the trail and captured Talpers and McFann
before they crossed the reservation line. It could have been done, with
Fire Bear doing the trailing. Even the half-breed admitted that much.
But, instead of carrying out such a programme, the agent had sent Fire
Bear and Plenty Buffalo with word that the trader might come back--that
no prosecution was intended.

Clearly enough such an unusual proceeding indicated that the girl was
still afraid on account of the letter, and had persuaded the agent to
abandon the chase. There was the key to the whole situation--the letter!
Bill determined to guard it more