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"What about the feller who's goin' to take Lee Haines out of Elkhead?" cried another. The crowd yelled with delight. "Yes, where is he? What about him?" Rogers, glancing down from his position on the chair, stared into the brown eyes of Whistling Dan. He stretched out an arm that shook with excitement. "That feller there!" he cried, "that one without a mask! Whistlin' Dan Barry is the man!"
The old man who had done the hoe-down hobbled to the end of the barroom and before the table of Mac Strann made a speech to the effect that Elkhead had everything it needed except laughter, that Mac Strann had come to their assistance in that respect, and that if he, the old man, had the power, he would pension such an efficient jester and keep him permanently in the town.
"Dan ain't here." The others exchanged glances, but the eyes of Kate dropped sadly and fastened again upon the hearth. Buck Daniels cleared his throat like an orator. "Nobody but a fool," he said, "would have started out of Elkhead in a storm like this." "Weather makes no difference to Dan," said Joe Cumberland. "But he'd think of his hoss "
"I jest want you to know that this here's my last trip to Elkhead on any business." "Why?" "I passed three marshals on the street, an' I knew them all. They was my friends, formerly. One of them was " "What did they do?" "I waved my hand to them, glad an' familiar. They jest grunted.
"He ain't had time," answered the giant. "Ain't had time? All these days?" "Wait till the dog gets well. He'll follow the dog to Elkhead." "Why, Mac, the trail's been washed out long ago. That wind the other day would of knocked out any trail less'n a big waggon." "It won't wash out the trail for that dog," said Mac Strann calmly.
"I am a busy man and you've wasted ten minutes of my time," said the great physician, turning back to his plate glass window. "My secretary will send you a bill for one thousand dollars. Good-day." And therefore, ten days later, Randall Byrne sat in his room in the hotel at Elkhead.
"He stays with me," said Dan. "By God," began Morris, "if I thought " "This ain't no place for you to begin thinkin'," said the man who had offered his buckboard to Dan. "This feller made the capture an' he's got the right to take him into Elkhead if he wants. They's a reward on the head of Lee Haines."
"Oh, God," said Buck. "How'd I know why he done it? How'd I know why he turned me loose when he should of took me to Elkhead to be lynched by the mob there? The girl's the only thing to help him outside of a doctor. I'm goin' to get the girl." "Where?" "I dunno. Maybe I'll try the old Salton place." "And take her away from Jim Silent?" broke in his father.
So I sent a feller ahead to fix a relay of hosses to Elkhead, because I made up my mind I was going to make Dan Barry chase me out of that town. I walked into the saloon where Dan was sittin' braidin' a little horsehair strand my God, Kate, think of him sittin' there doin' that with a hundred fellers standin' about waitin' for him to kill or be killed! I went up to him.
You and he are to meet somewhere again to-day. My friend, don't throw yourself away." Here Mac Strann stared down at his mighty hand a significant answer, but Pale Annie went on swiftly: "Yes, you're strong, but strength won't save you from Dan Barry. We know him here in Elkhead.
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