Wild Bill told what had happened to him at the Circle-B ranch. He protected Ace Hawkins, however, by failing to mention his name in the presence of the sheriff. Bloom was manifestly a friend of the Benners, and not to be trusted with any information about Hawkins. The Laramie man let it appear as though he had effected his own escape by way of the chimney. “That sounds too good to be true,” said Bloom sarcastically. “I reckon it does, to you,” returned Wild Bill. “If you know when you’re well off, sheriff,” said the scout, “you’ll let this matter drop. You don’t show up very well in what has happened. I’m ready to meet you, though, on any grounds you care to cut out.” Bloom made no answer, but stared stonily at the scout. “Nate,” pursued Buffalo Bill, “you’ll march out of here arm in arm with your good friend, the sky pilot; Wild Bill, you’ll personally conduct Abe Isaacs back to the hotel office where we can get his testimony in writing; I’ll bring up the rear of the procession and stay company front with Bloom, ready to begin on him whenever he makes the proper sign.” But the sheriff made no “sign.” The scout and his party walked unmolested out of the jail, and proceeded in the direction of the Delmonico Hotel. “Shake, Pard Hickok,” said the scout, when they were nearing the hotel office. “You’ve done fine work, although it’s hard to understand how you slipped your bonds and got out of that chimney--but you’re here, and that proves that you called the turn somehow.” Wild Bill chuckled as he looked around and took the scout’s hand. “I’m in on this, Wild Bill,” spoke up Dunbar, seizing the Laramie man’s hand when the scout was through with it. “This is something more I owe the scout and his pards.” “You owe more to the sky pilot, Dunbar, than to any one else,” answered Wild Bill. “How is that?” asked Jordan. “I’ll tell you later.” The trembling Isaacs was conducted into the hotel office and made to write out an account of his agreement with Lige and Jerry Benner. Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill, and Jordan signed the paper as witnesses. “Now, Isaacs,” said the scout, folding the paper and thrusting it into his pocket, “as it will soon be known to the Benners that they have lost out through you, I’d suggest that you do not linger in Hackamore. An extended sojourn might not be pleasant for you. It’s only a suggestion, however, and you can do as you please.” “I vill go,” declared Isaacs eagerly, “und I vill go now.” And he did go--taking Lige Benner’s five hundred dollars with him. The morning gray was streaking the east when all this business was finished. “Suppose we go to bed?” said the scout. “Come out hyer fust, you men,” called a voice from the front of the hotel. It was the clerk. He had accompanied Isaacs to the corral to make sure that he took his own horse, and he was now calling those in the office from the hitching pole.