Part 50 (1/2)
”Take another look through this; it came along with the photograph.
Now, would you be willing to swear to him?”
”I'll be glad to do so, if I have the chance. Shall I put a mark against the fellow?”
”Not on that!” The trooper handed George the card, which proved to be a carefully drawn key-plan of the photograph, with the figures outlined. ”You can mark this one.”
George did as he was told, and then handed the photograph to Flora.
”How did your people get it?” he asked the trooper.
”I can't say; they don't go into explanations.”
”But what do you think? Did Flett take the photograph?”
”No, sir; I heard him tell the sergeant he knew nothing about a camera.
He may have got somebody to take it or may have bought the thing.”
”Do you know where he is?”
”I only know he got special orders after Mr. Grant was robbed. It's my idea he was somewhere around when the photograph was taken.”
”I wonder where it was taken? In Alberta, perhaps, though I'm inclined to think it was on the other side of the frontier.”
”That is my opinion,” said Flora. ”There's not a great difference between us and our neighbors, but the dress of the mounted men and the style of the stores are somehow American. I'd say Montana, or perhaps Dakota.”
”Montana,” said the trooper. ”The big bunch of cattle seems to fix it.”
”Then you think Flett is over there?” asked George. ”I'm interested, so is Miss Grant, and you needn't be afraid of either of us spreading what you say.”
”It's my notion that Flett has spotted his men, but I guess he's now watching out near the boundary in Canada. These rustler fellows can't do all their business on one side; they'll have to cross now and then.
Flett's in touch with some of the American sheriffs, who'll give him the tip, and the first time the fellows slip over the frontier he'll get them. That would suit everybody better and save a blamed lot of formalities.”
Flora nodded.
”It strikes me as very likely; and Flett's perhaps the best man you could have sent. But have you shown the photograph to my father?”
”I did that before I left the homestead. There's n.o.body in the picture like the fellow who drove with Mr. Grant, and he tells me he saw n.o.body else. Now I must be getting on.”
He rode away, and Flora reverted to the topic she and George had been discussing.
”So you believe Mr. West is thinking of living here altogether! I suppose he would be able to take a farm of moderate size?”
”It wouldn't be very large; he can't have much money, but his people would help him to make a start if they were satisfied. That means they would consult me.”
Flora smiled.
”And you feel you would be in a difficult position, if you were asked whether it would be wise to let him marry a prairie girl? Have you formed any decision about the matter?”
She spoke in an indifferent tone, but George imagined that she was interested.