INE o’clock brought Hugh to the ranch where Mrs. Heckle and her son Jimmie took him in hand. Jimmie, a boy of twenty, was deeply impressed by the importance of having in charge the injured nominee for the governorship.
It was a fifty-mile run to Fort Sioux over a road of unbelievable roughness. Hugh made the trip endurable by talking to the boy, telling him of the discovery of the fossil vertebra, and quizzing him regarding any possible fossil remains he might have observed in the bad lands which bordered Big Fang. Jimmie was entirely uninformed but keenly interested, and Hugh found himself describing the fascination of paleontology to the boy with all the enthusiasm with which he had sought to convert his state-wide audiences Jimmie, before the trip was over, announced his intention of exploring the bad lands himself, and when Hugh became governor, of getting Hugh to incorporate all the section he found to be fossil bearing into the reserved area. By the time they drew up at the doctor’s door, Hugh had bound the youngster to him by the heady bonds of hero worship. He sent him on to the Indian Massacre for a few hours’ sleep, after having arranged for him to take Marten back with him to rescue the Dinosaur. Then he gave himself up to the doctor.
It was late in the afternoon before Hugh woke from the sleep into which he finally dropped, after the doctor had helped him to bed in The Lariat. Johnny Parnell was sitting by the cot smoking.
“Well!” said Johnny. “What was the name of that horse that had wings? Don’t you think you’re crowding the old gray stallion to try to make him into one of them?”
“My nomination went to my head,” returned Hugh.
“Or were you working out a new way to solve the woman problem?” Johnny went on. “Lord, Hughie, you sure have all the courage of ignorance! How’s the arm, old timer?”
“It will do,” replied Hugh. “Help me to shave, will you, Johnny? Did Marten get off all right with young Jimmie Heckle?”
“Yes, to both questions,” Johnny threw his cigarette out the window and picked up Hugh’s razor. “Jimmie is the most important man in Wyoming, without doubt. Incidentally, Grafton is back in town and took great interest in Jimmie’s story of your mishap. He knows all about it, even down to the fact that young Heckle is now your partner in the bone-digging business.”
Hugh grunted. “Much good may it do him!” and began his difficult toilet.
Jessie and Miriam returned to Fort Sioux the next day in the Dinosaur, the latter somewhat battle scarred, but, Marten insisted, as good as new. Fort Sioux, what with one aspect and another of Hugh’s private and public affairs, was entirely consumed with curiosity and flocked to meet the returned adventurers. Even Pink was there, still swollen with secret importance and blatant impatience. Hugh, making his way slowly through the crowd, saw Jessie and Miriam leave the machine, and apparently on cordial terms with each other, smile as they greeted Pink. There was no mistaking the popularity of Jessie or, for that matter, of Marten and the Dinosaur. But, in all that crowd, no one but Pink and Principal Jones greeted Miriam. She gave no evidence that she heeded the slight. She stood beside Jessie, looking delicate and very lovely in contrast with Jessie's athletic frame and strong, almost boyish face. Pink, having made way for the school man, stared pop-eyed at Miriam, then apparently with an overwhelming inspiration, he crowded forward again.
“Listen, partner, are you worried about results?" he asked.
Miriam stared at him. “What are you talking about, Mr. Morgan?" she returned, in a voice of such cutting quality that Pink blinked and gasped. Every one within hearing turned to look at him. Hugh, coming up just in time to hear query and counter query, scowled and shouldered Pink aside while he greeted the two women. Pink muttering to himself withdrew among the crowd.
“Any trouble getting out, Miriam?” asked Hugh. “Are you awfully done up?"
“Not a bit, Hughie. I’m quite in shape to go on with my trip. I shall take the six o’clock westward-bound this evening." Miriam spoke in a clear voice that carried far.
“You haven’t much time to waste then," said Hugh, looking at his watch. “Marten, will you bring Miss Page’s suitcase to the station?" He turned back to Miriam. “I’ll walk along with you."
He took her arm and, entirely indifferent to the interested assemblage, he lifted his hat to Jessie, and led Miriam out of the crowd.
“Miriam!" he burst forth, “you can’t go this way! I want to tell you so much more than I could put into the letters!"