ummer night,
he was glad to feel that there was no need for anxiety about the choice
Edgar had made.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE LEADING WITNESS

Three or four weeks passed quietly without any news from Flett until
one evening when Edgar sat talking to Miss Taunton in the office of her
father's store at Sage Butte. The little, dusty room was unpleasantly
hot and filled with the smell of resinous pine boards; there was a
drawl of voices and an occasional patter of footsteps outside the door;
and a big book, which seemed to have no claim on her attention, lay
open on the table in front of the girl.

She was listening to Edgar with a smile in her eyes, and looking, so he
thought, remarkably attractive in her light summer dress which left her
pretty, round arms uncovered to the elbow and displayed the polished
whiteness of her neck. He was expressing his approval of the current
fashions, which he said were rational and particularly becoming to
people with skins like ivory. Indeed, he was so engrossed in his
subject that he did not hear footsteps approaching until his companion
flashed a warning glance at him; and he swung round with some annoyance
as the door opened.

"I guessed I would find you here," said the station-agent, looking in
with an indulgent smile.

"You're a thoughtful man," retorted Edgar. "You may as well tell me
what you want."

"I've a wire from Flett, sent at Hatfield, down the line."

"What can he be doing there?" Edgar exclaimed; and Miss Taunton showed
her interest.

"He was coming through on the train. Wanted Mr. Lansing to meet him at
the station, if he was in town. Hadn't you better go along?"

"I suppose so," said Edgar resignedly, glancing at his watch. "It
looks as if your men had taken their time. Flett should be here in
about a quarter of an hour now."

"Operator had train orders to get through; we have two freights
side-tracked," the agent explained. "Don't be late; she's coming along
on time."

He hurried out, and a few minutes later Edgar crossed the street and
strolled along the low wooden platform, upon which a smart constable
was waiting. A long trail of smoke, drawing rapidly nearer, streaked
the gray and ochre of the level plain, and presently the big engine and
dusty cars rolled into the station amid the hoarse tolling of the bell.
As they ran slowly past him, Edgar saw a police trooper leaning out
from a vestibule, and when the train stopped the constable on