invitation for the whole party to stop at the ranch, he would have
to consult the wishes of the party. He rather liked the colonel, who
was, apparently, bluff and sincere.

As Ted was on his way to the bank which had issued the bill which he had
found in the haunted house, he stopped suddenly. He had just seen a
young woman enter a store hurriedly, and look at him over her shoulder
as she did so. She it was who had slipped the note of warning into his
pocket in the Union Station, in St. Louis.

Evidently she was trying to avoid him. But why? He wanted to thank her
for that kindly service, and, quite naturally, he had some curiosity to
know who she was.

Without apparently hurrying he followed her into the store, and looked
around for her. She was not in sight, and he walked up and down the
aisles between the counters, but could not find her.

Then he observed that there was a back door to the store, which opened
onto an arcade. She had escaped him through that, and Ted looked up and
down the arcade. At the far end, where it opened out into the public
square, a carriage stood, and a young lady was getting into it.

It was the young lady of the subtle perfume and the note.

In a moment she was gone.

He was not far from the bank, and giving the young woman no more
thought, for he was sure he would see her again, for she seemed to be
mixed up in his fortunes in some manner, he made his way to the
financial institution and asked for the president.

"You will find Mr. Norcross in his private office at the end of the
corridor," said the clerk.

At the door of the office Ted found a colored messenger, who stopped him
and asked his business.

"Is Mr. Norcross in his office?" asked Ted.

"Yes, sah, but he is busy," answered the messenger.

"Well, take my card in to him, and tell him I would like to see him
when he is at leisure."

The negro went away, and in a few moments returned to say that Mr.
Norcross would be glad to see Mr. Strong presently.

While Ted waited he stood looking out of the window into the street. The
door behind him opened, and he turned.

Walking rapidly down the corridor was the man with the pointed beard,
whom he had seen in the Union Station in St. Louis give the signal to
the girl who had slipped the note into his pocket.

Ted stared after him. The mystery of the note was getting thicker. But
he would try to think it out later.

He found Mr. Norcross an elderly, but active man.

"