He walked over, kicked the sagebrush violently, that a concealed rattler might not spring on him, and took up the object.

It was a piece of paper about six inches square, and in the dim moonlight Calumet could see that it contained writing of some sort and a crude sketch.

He looked closer at it, saw a spot marked "Idol is here," and then folded it quickly and placed it, crumpled into a ball, into a pocket of his trousers.
He was now certain that Taggart had been merely deceiving Betty; there had been no other significance to his visits.

The visits were merely part of a plan to get possession of the idol.

While he had been talking to Betty in the office tonight Telza had stolen the diagram.
There was more than triumph in Calumet's eyes as he turned his pony--there was joy and savage exultation.