Brisbane came forward, greeting Curtis most cordially. He was grayer than Curtis remembered him, and a little stooping from age. His massive head was covered with a close-clipped bristle of white hair, and his beard, also neatly trimmed, was shaped to a point, from the habit he had of stroking it with his closed left hand in moments of deep thought. His skin was flushed pink with blood, and his urbane manner denoted pride and self-sufficiency. He was old, but he was still a powerful personality, and though he shook hands warmly, Curtis felt his keen and penetrating glance as palpably as an electric shock. Lawson's voice arose. "Well, Captain, I hardly expected to see you so soon." As the two men clasped hands Elsie again closely compared them. Curtis was the handsomer man, though Lawson was by no means ill-looking, even by contrast. The soldier more nearly approached the admirable male type, but there was charm in the characteristic attitudes and gestures of the student, who had the assured and humorous manner of the onlooker. A young woman of indeterminate type who was seated in conversation with Mrs. Wilcox received Curtis with impassive countenance, eying him closely through pinch-nose glasses. Mrs. Wilcox beamed with pleasure, and inquired minutely concerning the people at the agency, and especially she wished to know how little Johnny and Jessie Eagle were. "I quite fell in love with the tots, they were so cunning. I hope they got the toys I sent." Brisbane gave Curtis the most studious attention, lounging deep in his big chair. Occasionally he ponderously leaned forward to listen to some remark, with his head cocked in keen scrutiny--actions which did not escape the Captain's notice. "He's sizing me up," he thought. "Well, let him." Elsie also listened, curiously like her father in certain inclinations of the head--intent, absorbed; only Lawson seemed indifferent to the news the agent guardedly recited. Brisbane broke his silence by saying: "I infer you're on the side of the redskin?" "Decidedly, in this connection." "Quite aside from your duty?" "Entirely so. My duty in this case happened to be my inclination. I could have declined the detail, but being a believer in the army's arrangement of Indian affairs, I couldn't decently refuse." Brisbane settled back into his chair and looked straight at his visitor. "You think the white man the aggressor in this land question?" Curtis definitely pulled himself up. "I am not at liberty to speak further on that matter." Mrs. Wilcox interrupted smilingly. "Andrew, don't start an argument now. Dinner is served, and I know Captain Curtis is hungry." Elsie rose. "Yes, papa, leave your discussion till some other time, when you can bang the furniture." Curtis expected to take Miss Cooke in to dinner, but Elsie delighted him by saying, "You're to go in with me, Captain." "I am very glad of the privilege," he said, with deliberate intent to please her; his sincerity was unquestionable.