“TOM CONOVER.” “From Tom Conover,” said the scout, looking up and addressing Woods, the town marshal. “He wants to see me, and I’d like you to go over to the jail with me!” Woods got on his feet. “All right,” he said; “that can be arranged easy.” The woman and her husband stood waiting. “I’ll see this man who is held in jail here,” said the scout to her, “and then I’ll make my arrangements. Cheer up. I can promise you that we will do all that men can do to rescue your boy.” He shook hands with her and her husband, and then with Woods left the office and went out into the street, where Nomad and Wild Bill were still “guffing” with the crowd that surrounded them and the Indian scouts. CHAPTER XIX. THE TALK WITH TOLTEC TOM. Buffalo Bill took Wild Bill and Nick Nomad with him when he walked to the jail to interview Tom Conover. The marshal went along also, as a matter of course. Left behind, Little Cayuse and his three Apaches retreated to the stables to get away from the curious crowd, and busied themselves there in attending to the horses. Conover was pacing restlessly the narrow confines of his cell when Buffalo Bill and his companions arrived. The marshal brought him out into the little room which served as the jail office, where he found the pards awaiting him. “Hard luck, Conover,” said the scout, greeting him; “but we’ll hope you won’t have to stay in here long. They’re getting ready to investigate that shooting, and I’m told the woman isn’t really hurt much. I guess it can be shown that the thing was a pure accident.” “I was a fool for potting away with my hardware down by those huts,” Conover admitted; “there’s where I was wrong. I hope you can git me out of this without trouble; that’s why I sent for you.” “We think we can do that,” said the scout cheerfully. “You know my old pard, Wild Bill, I believe, and no doubt you’ve heard of Nick Nomad.” Nomad had doubled himself up in a chair in an uncommunicative way, and sat staring at Conover under his shaggy brows, taking his measure; apparently the old trapper did not like his looks any too well. But Wild Bill was in a different and amiable mood. For a few moments they discussed the accidental shooting of the Mexican woman; after which, without preliminary, Buffalo Bill introduced the subject of the kidnaped boy. “That’s why we are here,” he explained. “I am under instructions from the commander at Fort Grant to take up this matter at once; which means, probably, a trip into the Cumbres in pursuit of the kidnaping redskins. You’re familiar with those mountains, I believe?” Conover’s puffed face took on a deeper red. “Just say that all over again, Cody,” he requested, for the purpose of getting time to think.