ung open.

"All right, Red," came the whispered reply, "but remember that I get
whatever money's in sight, just for appearances' sake, though it's
letters and such things I'm really after."

"It goes as you say, boss, and I hope you get what you want. There goes
that inside door."

In the light of a flash-lamp Lowell saw a letter and a roll of bills. He
took both, while Red Egan, his work done, packed up the kit of tools.

Lowell had recognized Helen's handwriting on the envelope, and knew he
had found what he wanted.

"You've earned that trip to Omaha, Red," said Lowell, after they had
gone back to their horses which had been standing in a cottonwood grove
near by. "When we get back to the agency I'll put you in my car and
drive you far enough by daybreak so that you can catch a train at noon."

"You're a square guy, judge, but if that's the letter you've been
wantin' to get, why don't you read it? Or maybe you know what's in it
without readin' it."

"No, I don't know what's in it, and I don't want to read it, Red."

Red's amazed whistle cut through the night silence.

"Well, if that ain't the limit! Havin' a safe-crackin' job done for a
letter that you ain't ever seen and don't want to see the inside of!"

"It's all right, Red. Don't worry about it, because you've earned your
money twice over to-night. Don't look on your last job as a failure, by
any means."

* * * * *

A few hours later the Indian agent, not looking like a man who had been
up all night, halted his car at Talpers's store, after he had received
an excited hail from Andy Wolters.

"You're jest in time!" exclaimed Andy. "Bill Talpers's safe has been
cracked and Bill is jest now tryin' to figger the damage. He says he's
lost a roll of money and some other things."

Lowell found Talpers going excitedly through the contents of his broken
safe. It was not the first time the trader had pawed over the papers.
Nor were the oaths that fell on Lowell's ears the first that the trader
had uttered since the discovery that he had been robbed as he slept.

It was plain enough that Talpers was suffering from a deeper shock than
could come through any mere loss of money. Not even when Lowell
contrived to drop the roll of bills, where the trader's clerk picked it
up with a whoop of glee, did Talpers's expression change. His oaths were
those of a man distraught, and the contumely he heaped upon Sheriff Tom
Redmond moved tha