“Are there men like him?” she said.

Miss Barrington shook off her anger, and rising, laid a gentle hand on her niece’s shoulder.  “Very few, I hope,” she said.  “Still, it would be better if we sent word to Dane.  You would not care for that tale to spread?”

For a moment the girl’s cheeks flamed, then she rose quietly and crossed the room.

“No,” she said, and her aunt stood still, apparently lost in contemplation, after the door swung softly to.  Then she sat down at the writing table.  There was very little in the note, but an hour after Dane received it that night, a wagon drew up outside Ferris’s farm.  Two men went quietly in and found the owner of the homestead sitting with a sheaf of papers scattered about the table in front of him.

“Come back to-morrow.  I can’t be worried now,” he said.  “Well, why the devil don’t you go?”

Dane laid a hand on his shoulder.  “We are waiting for you.  You are coming with us!”

Ferris turned, and stared at them.  “Where to?”

“To the railroad,” Dane said dryly.  “After that you can go just where it pleases you.  Now, there’s no use, whatever, making a fuss, and every care will be taken of your property until you can arrange to dispose of it.  Hadn’t you better get ready?”

The grim quietness of the voice was sufficient, and Ferris, who saw that force would be used if it was necessary, decided that it was scarcely likely his hired men would support him.

“I might have expected it!” he said.  “Of course, it was imprudent to speak the truth to our leader’s niece.  You know what I have done?”

“I know what you did the night Courthorne nearly lost his life,” said Dane.  “One would have fancied that would have contented you.”

“Well,” said Ferris, “if you would like to hear of a more serious offense, I’ll oblige you.”

Dane’s finger closed on his arm.  “If you attempt to tell me, I’ll break your head for you.”

Next moment Ferris was lifted from his chair, and in less than ten minutes Dane thrust him into the wagon, where another man, who passed a hand through his arm, sat beside him.  It was a very long drive to the railroad, but few words were exchanged during it, and when they reached the settlement one of Ferris’s companions mounted guard outside the hotel he found accommodation in, until the Montreal express crawled up above the rim of the prairie.  Then both went with him to the station, and as the long cars rolled in Dane turned quietly to the lad.

“Now, I am quite aware that we are incurring some responsibility, so you need not waste your breath,” he said.  “There are, however, lawyers in Winnipeg, if you fancy it is advisable to make use of them, and you know where I and Macdonald are, if you want us.  In the meanwhile, your farm will be run better than ever if was in your hands, until you dispose of it.  That is all I have to tell you, except that if any undesirable version of the affair gets about, Courthorne or I will assuredly find you.”