closely by a slope-shouldered old gentleman with close-set eyes, came
out with Burton. He nodded to the secretary and kept on talking to the
general agent. Quatremain could scarcely help overhearing.

"You can introduce yourself," he was saying; "there isn't time for any
formalities. You'll find them docile enough--they haven't any kick
coming with you, you know--and I'll be here to take them off your hands
when you get back. No, I'll not go over to the train, unless you want me
to; I'm going to the telegraph office with Mr. Jordan here, and then
up-town to see our general agent about his ticket. Good-by, old man; and
thank you again."

Quatremain looked at his watch. It was 7.55, to the minute, and he
walked leisurely around to the private car.

"Well?" said the President, and the steady gaze of the cold eye slew the
falsehood which the secretary was about to utter.

"He's in the telegraph office with one of his people," Quatremain
replied, angry enough to curse himself for being so weak as to tell the
truth.

"Very good. Go into my stateroom and get the mail ready. I'll come in
and dictate to you presently."

The secretary obeyed as one who may not do otherwise, and left the
stateroom door ajar. A moment later, he heard a tap at the door of
Gertrude's room, and then the President and his daughter left the car
together. Quatremain slammed down the cover of his desk, snatched his
hat, and followed them. He had paid the servile price, and he would at
least gratify his curiosity.

He caught sight of them in the crowd streaming out toward the Colorado
Central train, and scored the first point when he observed that the
President made a detour to avoid passing the open door of the telegraph
office. Then he kept them in view till he saw Miss Vennor give her hand
to Burton at the steps of one of the narrow-gauge cars.

At that moment, Mrs. Burton, who was comfortably established in the
midst of a carful of the Tadmorians, chanced to look out of the window.
She saw the President and his daughter come swiftly across the platform,
saw her husband step out to meet them and shake hands with Gertrude,
remarked the quick flash of glad surprise on the young girl's face, and
the nervous anxiety with which the President consulted his watch, and
was immediately as well apprised of the inwardness of the little plot as
if she had devised it herself.

"Oh! _oh!_" she said to herself, with indignant emphasis; "that
venerable old