Page:The Boy Land Boomer.djvu/163

Rh "Ha!" Vorlange's eyes gleamed, and the girl felt certain she had made a mistake.

"Where is Pawnee Brown now?"

"I left him in the cave with the Indian. I expected him to follow me."

"I see. And what may your name be?"

The man's words were fair enough, but Nellie did not like his manneermanner [sic] at all, so she turned upon him coldly.

And what is your name, and who are you?"

"I am not here to answer questions, miss. I am a government official, let that be enough for you to know."

As he spoke Louis Vorlange caught Nellie by the arm.

"Let go of me," cried the frightened girl, and attempted to pull away, but Vorlange held her tight.

"You come along with me. No one, and especially Pawnee Brown, has any right in this territory just now, and it is my business to see that all such people are kept out. I presume you belong to that crowd of boomers, since you say you were carried off from Arkansas City?"

"I shall answer no more of your questions, sir. Let me go!"

"You'll come along with me," muttered Vorlange.