is he?"

"He went into Harrod's to get us a deer," she replied in a low voice.
"What has he done?"

"Stuck up a man on the Ghost Lake road. He ought to have told me. Do
you think you could meet up with him and tip him off?"

"He's hunting on Owl Marsh. I'll try."

"All right. Change your clothes and slip out the back-door. And look
out for Harrod's patrols, too."

"All right, dad," she sad. "If I have to be out to-night, don't worry.
I'll get word to Smith somehow."

Half an hour later Lannis and Stormont returned from a prowl around the
clearing. Lannis paid the reckoning; his comrade led out the horses.
He said again to Lannis:

"I'm sure it was the girl. She wore men's clothes and she went into the
woods on a run."

As they started to ride away, Lannis said to Clinch, who stood on the
veranda:

"It's still the blue-jay and the squirrel talk between us, Mike, but the
show-down is sure to come. Better go straight while the going's good."

"I go straight enough to suit me," said Clinch.

"But it's the Government that is to be suited, Mike. And if it gets you
right you'll be in dutch."

"Don't let that worry you," said Clinch.

* * * * *

About three o'clock the two State Troopers, riding at a walk, came to
the forks of the Ghost Lake road.

"Now," said Lannis to Stormont, "if you really believe you saw the girl
beat it out of the back door and take to the woods, she's probably
somewhere in there----" he pointed into the western forest. "But" he
added, "what's your idea in following her?"

"She wore men's clothes; she was in a hurry and trying to keep out of
sight. I wondered whether Clinch might have sent her to warn this
hold-up fellow."

"That's rather a long shot, isn't it?"

"Very long. I could go in and look about a bit, if you'll lead my
horse."

"All right. Take your bearings. This road runs west to Ghost Lake. We
sleep at the Inn there -- if you mean to cross the woods on foot."

Stormont nodded, consulted his map and compass, pocketed both, unbuckled
his spurs.

When he was ready he gave his bridle to Lannis.

"I'd just like to see what she's up to," he remarked.

"All right. If you miss me come to the Inn," said Lannis, starting on
with the led horse.

* * * * *

The forest was open amid a big stand of white pine and hemlock, and
Stormont traveled easily and swiftly. He had struck a line by compass
that must cross the direction taken by Eve Strayer when sh