e but that he had help," Jim Hooley said,
talking the matter over later, after Mr. Hammond had arrived from the
railroad and had been told about the incident, "He is a dangerous
fellow, that Fenbrook."

"He has made himself a nuisance," agreed Mr. Hammond. "Tell William and
the other boys to keep their eyes open for him. The moment he appears
again--if he does appear--let them grab him. I will get a warrant sworn
out at Clearwater for his arrest. We will put him in jail until our
picture is finished, at least."

They did not believe at the time that Ruth was in any further peril from
Dakota Joe. As for the girls, they were particularly excited just then
by some news Mr. Hammond had brought with him from the post-office.

Letters from Tom Cameron! He was coming home! Indeed, he would have
started before Ruth and Helen received the messages he wrote. And in
Ruth's letter he promised a great surprise. What that surprise was the
girl of the Red Mill could not imagine.

"Doesn't he say anything about a surprise for me?" demanded Jennie
Stone.

"He doesn't say a word about you in my letter, Heavy," said Helen
wickedly.

"Why, Jennie, he doesn't know you are with us here in the West," Ruth
said soothingly.

"I don't care," sputtered the fat girl. "He must know about my Henri.
And not a word have I heard from or about him in a month. If the war is
over, surely Henri must be as free as Tom Cameron."

"I suppose some of the soldiers have to stay along the Rhine, Jennie,
dear," replied Ruth. "Maybe Henri is one of those guarding the
frontier."

"He is holding the German hordes back, single-handed, from _la belle_
France," put in Helen, smiling.

"Oh, cat's foot!" snapped Jennie. "The Germans are just as glad to stop
fighting as we are. They certainly don't need Henri in the army any
longer. I am going to write to his mother!"

CHAPTER XXI

A BULL AND A BEAR

Wonota had known nothing of what was supposed to have been a deliberate
attempt to injure Ruth Fielding until some hours after the occurrence.
She had not much to say about it, but, like the three white girls, she
was sure the guilty man was Dakota Joe.

As William had said, Fenbrook was a "mighty mean man," and the Osage
maid knew that to be a fact. She nodded her head gravely as she
commented upon the incident that might have ended so seriously.

"That Dakota Joe is bad. Chief Totantora would have sent him to the
spirit land long since, had he be