Ellen West, all unaware that her lover had been shot down but a few moments before in front of her home by this man, advanced to where Panther Pete sat on his horse. “Why, it’s Mr. Cody!” she said, in a tone of pleased surprise. “I didn’t know you were in the town.” “I just came in.” She glanced about, and at the men who were with him. “I can speak safely?” she asked. “Yes; and glad to hear your voice, no matter what you say,” was his flattering answer. “Well, they’re telling awful stories about you, Mr. Cody; and you’ll not be pleased to hear them.” “I’ve already heard them,” he said, “and they annoy me. Your father sent me here to-night.” “Father sent you?” She had come quite close up to his horse and now looked up into his face, while he bent toward her from the saddle. “Yes, I heard these reports this morning. Your father was with me at the time; and he told me to come here at once. You know I’ve advanced him money to work that mining claim out in the Blue Hills?” “Yes, I knew that,” she said frankly. “I was out at the claim when the news came to me. The accusations are against your father as well as against myself; and the vigilantes that organized to-day at the Flash Light Saloon intend to hang him, as well as me, as soon as they can catch us.” “Then you’re in great danger!” she cried. She was startled, and her tremulous voice showed that she was concerned for the safety of her father. “Yes, I know it,” he answered; “but I’ve braved it to bring this word to you from your father. He wants you to take one of these horses and ride out with me to that claim to-night. We’ll be your escort, and you’ll be perfectly safe.” “Out to the claim to-night?” She was amazed. It would be a long and wild night ride. “That was his request; and I’ve come at his request. He is to be hung by the vigilantes, if they catch him; and he fears that they will even treat you harshly, and so he wanted you to get out of the town at once.” She hesitated. She did not like the thought of that long night ride, even though she did not yet distrust this fake Buffalo Bill, for she believed him to be the real Buffalo Bill. It seemed strange to her that her father should ask her to do this thing, for she reasoned that he ought to know she would not personally be in any danger in the town. “I think I ought to see Mr. Denton first,” she said. Though Panther Pete’s anger flamed at that name, he still maintained his outward composure. “I have already met him and sent him out there!” he said. “Mr. Denton has gone out there?” “Yes; he was in as much danger as either your father or myself, and I told him so. He was riding, beyond the town, and I urged him to hurry on to the claim. I told him I’d get you, with this escort, and see you safe to the claim to-night.”