"Hey!" shouted Dakota Joe, calling the marshal. "Show this guy your
warrant."

"Don't show me nothin'," rejoined the railroad employee. He let Ruth
slip through and whispered: "Your party's aboard your car. There's a
switcher coupled on. She'll scoot you all down the yard to the main
line. Get aboard."

Ruth slipped through the gate, while the guard stood in a position to
prevent the two men from approaching it. The girl heard the gate close
behind her.

It was evident that Mr. Hammond had been apprised of Dakota Joe's
attempt to bring the Indian girl into court. Of course, the judge would
deny his appeal; but a court session would delay the party's journey
westward.

Ruth saw the other girls ahead of her, and she ran to the car. Mr.
Hammond himself was on the platform to welcome them.

"That fellow is a most awful nuisance. I had to make an arrangement with
the railroad company to get us out of here at once. Luckily I have a
friend high up among the officials of the company. Come aboard, Miss
Ruth. Everybody else is here and we are about to start."




CHAPTER XIV