Rusty confided his failure to Major Selby, who in turn sent a letter to
Warren Jarvis at his New York club. There the latter was hastening his
preparations for the great _trek_ through the mountains. Warren had
closed his office, where, profiting by his experiences in South and
Central America, he had maintained a successful exporting agency: all
his affairs were in hand, and that hand closed. All his outstanding
investments had been hypothecated, with shrewd advantage. At last he
was ready, certain that should he lose his life in the vengeful
venture, his kinsfolk would be taken care of, without legal
complications: with all his inherited romanticism, Jarvis of Kentucky
was a man of astuteness.

He was sitting in the grill of his club, brooding over a solitary
glass, unmindful of the friendly chatter of the members about him, when
a uniformed page brought him a yellow envelope. He tore open the
telegram, sensing important news. It was only from Meadow Green that he
received his club mail. And it was from Louisville that the message
came. It was simple, and yet it left him bewildered.

"WARREN JARVIS,
Export Club, N.Y.

Coming with Marcum. Buy supplies.

RUSTY."

At first Warren smiled, then he swore, as only a chivalrous Southron
can! Why should Rusty be coming with Marcum? He could not have arrested
or imprisoned him. What were the supplies? Evidently this was some
attempt at code which was beyond his ability to guess.

He spent the night and the next day in a perplexed mood.

A wire sent to Major Selby, inquiring as to the whereabouts of the
negro, brought back the simple reply, "Missing--no one knows."

Toward evening, after much perturbation, Warren decided upon a measure
of preparedness for whatever might happen. He had given up his bachelor
quarters on Madison Avenue two mornings previous, in expectation of the
long trip through Kentucky. One night he had spent at his club. Yet, if
Marcum were coming to New York, it were best to be located in some
place where he could cover his own identity without attracting
attention. Such a place would naturally be a large hotel. Accordingly
he registered at the Hotel Belmont under an alias. This was close to
the Grand Central Station--handy for a quick departure from town, if
such were necessary.

Jarvis packed two suitcases with his modest needs for the Southern
trip, and donned his evening clothes for dinner at the cl