the
platform hurried toward the car. A hum of excited voices broke out and
Edgar had some difficulty in pushing through the growing crowd to reach
the steps. A constable, who had hard work to keep the others back, let
him pass, and he found Flett standing on the platform above, looking
rather jaded, with a pistol loose in his holster.

"Isn't Mr. Lansing here?" Flett asked eagerly, and then turned to the
trooper. "Keep those fellows off!"

"No," answered Edgar; "he hasn't come into town. But what's the cause
of this commotion? Have you got your men?"

"Three of them," said Flett, with a look of pride. "I expect we'll get
the fourth. But come in a minute, out of the noise."

The car was besieged. Curious men were clambering up the side of it,
trying to peer in through the windows; others disputed angrily with the
trooper who drove them off the steps. Eager questions were shouted and
scraps of random information given, and groups of people were excitedly
running across the street to the station. It was, however, a little
quieter in the vestibule when Flett had banged the door. He next
opened the inner door that led to the smoking compartment of the
Colonist car. In spite of its roominess, it was almost insufferably
hot and very dirty; the sunlight struck in through the windows; sand
and fine cinders lay thick upon the floor. A pile of old blue blankets
lay, neatly folded, on one of the wooden seats, and on those adjoining
sat three men. Two wore brown duck overalls, gray shirts, and big soft
hats; one was dressed in threadbare cloth; but there was nothing that
particularly suggested the criminal in any of their sunburned faces.
They looked hot and weary with the journey, and though their expression
was perhaps a little hard, they looked like harvest hands traveling in
search of work. One, who was quietly smoking, took his pipe from his
mouth and spoke to Flett.

"Can't you get us some ice?" he asked. "The water in the tank isn't
fit to drink."

"They haven't any here. You'll have to wait until we get to the
junction," Flett told him, and drew Edgar back into the vestibule.

"We're taking them right along to Regina," he explained. "I'm sorry I
couldn't see Mr. Lansing, but I'll ride over as soon as I'm sent back.
If he's likely to be away, he'd better send word to the station."

"I don't expect he'll leave the farm during the next few weeks," said
Edgar.

Then one of the constables looked in.