care of her?"

"I don't know."

"Have you any idea where she would be likely to go--whether there is
any friend who might have offered her a temporary home?"

"No." Rose considered. "She wouldn't go to any old friend. You see
she's--awf'ly sensitive. And she'd have to explain. Besides, I'd find
out she was there."

"That's true."

"I ought never to have left her last spring. I should have found work
here and not gone gallumpin' all over the country." Her chin trembled.
She was on the verge of tears.

"Nonsense. You can't blame yourself. We each have to live our own
life. How could you tell what was comin'? Betcha we find her right
away. Mebbe she let out somethin' to Cole. She doesn't look to me
like a girl who could play out a stiff hand alone."

"She isn't. She's dependent--always has leaned on some one." Rose had
regained control of herself quickly. She stood straight and lissom,
mistress of her emotions, but her clear cheeks were colorless. "I'm
worried, Kirby, dreadfully. Esther hasn't the pluck to go through
alone. She--she might--"

No need to finish the sentence. Her friend understood.

His strong hand went out and closed on hers. "Don't you worry,
pardner. It'll be all right. We'll find her an' take her somewhere
into the country where folks don't know."

Faintly she smiled. "You're such a comfort."

"Sho! We'll get busy right away. Denver ain't such a big town that we
can't find one li'l' girl _muy pronto_." His voice was steady and
cheerful, almost light. "First off, we'll check up an' see if any one
saw her go. What did she take with her?"

"One suitcase."

"How much money? Can you make a guess?"

"She had only a dollar or two in her purse. She had money in the bank.
I'll find out if she drew any."

"Lemme do that. I'll find Cole, too. You make some inquiries round
the house here, kinda easy-like. Meet you here at six o'clock. Or
mebbe we'd better meet downtown. Say at the Boston Chop House."

Cole was with Kirby when he met Rose at the restaurant.

"We'll go in an' get somethin' to eat," Lane said. "We'll talk while
we're waitin'. That way we'll not lose any time."

They found a booth and Kirby ordered the dinner. As soon as the waiter
had gone he talked business.

"Find out anything, Rose?"

"Yes. A girl at the house who works for the telephone company saw
Esther get into an automobile a block and a half from the house. A man
helped her i