"How do you do, Mr.--er--ah--Walker. I presume that what you say about Black Harry's chances, if he is captured, is quite true--he will be lynched." "Oh, it is not certain, of course; he might obtain protection by officers of the law. But he would stand a good show of being lynched. And Elreno is the worst place in Oklahoma for him to show his face in at present." "I should presume it might be. Dawson, the wounded banker, is there?" "And his daughter--can she identify this young desperado the moment she sees him?" "Without doubt." "Black Harry will be very foolish if he goes to Elreno." "He is not likely to go there, I fancy." "I don't know about that. He is a dare-devil fellow." "So it seems." "And he might take a fancy that Elreno would be the last place where he would be expected to appear, and so he would go there." "He might do that." "Now, in your own case, if you were Black Harry, for instance, you might put on a bold face, and show yourself in Elreno, while everybody outside that town would be on the lookout for you." "Possibly, you are right." "I think such a trick would be very like Black Harry. He might go so far as to take the train to Elreno from some place that would make it seem that he could not have been in the locality where the hold-up was committed. If he were to come into Elreno on this train, for instance, it would be a blind." "How far is Oklahoma City from the place where the train was robbed?" "Between thirty and forty miles, direct." "That distance could be made on horseback between the time of the robbery and this morning--do you think so?" "Well, it is very likely. What do you think, Mr.--ah--er--I beg your pardon?" "My name is Frank Merriwell." "Really?" Walker lifted his eyebrows in a very odd manner, which Frank did not fail to observe. "You appear as if you doubted me," came a trifle warmly from the lad's lips, while the color rushed to his cheeks. "Oh, not at all--not at all! You are in Oklahoma on business?" "No, sir." "Not?" "No." "Pleasure?" "Yes, sir." "How? Traveling?" "I am." "Alone?" "No." "Didn't notice you had company." "I have not, at present." "H'm! Ha! Your friends--are they on this train?" "No, sir." Walker elevated his eyebrows again. His nose seemed longer and more pointed than ever. It was a nose that reminded the boy of an interrogation point. It seemed built to thrust itself into other people's business. "Ha! Not on the train?" "No." "You expect to meet them?" "Yes." "Where?" "In Elreno." "How many of them?" "Two." "No more?" "No." Frank was answering curtly, and his manner announced his dislike for his inquisitive companion. Still, he was courteous and cool, holding himself in check. "I presume your companions are older than yourself?" questioned the prying Jerseyite, his small eyes glistening. "One is; the other is a boy about my age." "Ha! H'm! Just so. You are from the East, I presume?" "Yes, sir."