ow you happened to be here gets me," said Gaynor. "It's like magic.
You didn't hear down in San Francisco that I was hurt, did you?"

"No. I--I just happened to be here. You see, papa----"

"That'll come later," he broke in. "You're here; that's all that counts.
You're going to do something for me."

Anything, thought Gloria. And she was glad that he did not seek just now
the explanation of her presence here; of course she would tell him
everything--later. But she was still confused--"Mrs. Gratton "! Did she,
down in the depths of her frivolous girl-heart, want to be that? Had she
glimpsed, when she so gaily left San Francisco last night, that this
escapade was something more than a mere "lark"?

"You are not dangerously hurt, papa?"

"Bless you, no! Not now, that you're here. Though I believe it would
have near killed me if I'd been put out of the running altogether. I got
a crack on the head that sickened me; but the tough old skull held out
against it. And I got an arm broken and a rib cracked----"

Gloria, aghast, was once more in fear for him. But he cried impatiently:

"Don't you worry about me. I'll be on my feet in a week. Now, listen:
I've got to talk fast before somebody comes in. The doctor is apt to be
here any minute, and he's a stiff-necked tyrant. You know the trail
through the mountains to our place; you rode it twice with King."

"Yes."

"I want you to ride it again to-day. You can get a horse at the stable.
Don't let any one know where you are going. I want you to take a message
to King. And it's got to get to him and into nobody's hands but his.
Understand that, Gloria?"

Gloria did not answer promptly; she wanted to demur. She was tired; she
was afraid of the mountains; she did not want to see Mark King. But she
saw a terrible earnestness in her father's eyes and that while he
awaited her answer quick fever spots glowed in his cheeks. She squeezed
his hands and replied:

"Of course, papa. I'll do whatever you want."

"God bless you for that," he muttered. "This is sober, serious
business, Gloria; you are the only one here I could trust. King will be
at the house; at least I hope he will. I sent him word several days ago
that--that something was in the wind, and to meet me there. And, Gloria,
I want you to promise, by all that's good and holy, that you won't let a
word or a sign or a hint slip to anybody else. Not to a soul on earth.
Will you, Gloria?"

"Yes." She looked at him curiousl