t Cavendish where he can't get at him. There's no other chance. If
Jim Westcott ever finds that fellow alive our goose is cooked. And
we've got the advantage--we know where the man is."

"And Westcott doesn't?"

"Exactly, but he will know. He'll comb these hills until he finds the
trail--that's Jim Westcott. Come on back inside, both of you, and I'll
tell you my plan. No, there is no use trying to run him down
to-night--a hundred men couldn't do it. What's that, Moore? Go on to
the shaft-house, and let Dan fix you up. No, we won't need any guard.
That fellow will never come back here again to-night. Come on, boys."

The door closed behind them, shutting out the yellow glow, and leaving
the hillside black and lonely. A bucket of rock rattled onto the dump,
and Moore, limping painfully, swearing with every step, clambered up
the dark trail toward the shaft-house.

Miss Donovan did not go down to supper. Beaton waited some time in the
office, his eyes on the stairs, but she failed to appear, and he lacked
the necessary courage to seek her in her own room. Then Enright called
him and compelled his attendance. The absence of the girl was not
caused from any lack of appetite as she subsidised the Chinaman to
smuggle her a supply of food by way of the back stairs, which she ate
with decided relish, but she had no desire to show any anxiety
regarding a meeting with the newcomers.

Her newspaper experience had given her some knowledge of human nature
and she felt convinced that her task of extracting information would be
greatly simplified if these people sought her company first. To hold
aloof would have a tendency to increase their interest, for Beaton
would certainly tell of her presence in the hotel, and, if their
purpose there had any criminal intent, suspicion would be aroused.

This theory, however, became somewhat strained as the time passed
quietly, and seemed to break entirely when from her window she saw
Beaton and the heavy-set man ride out of town on a pair of livery
horses. She watched them move down the long street, and turn into the
trail leading out across the purple hills. The lowering darkness
finally hid them from view. She was still at the window beginning to
regret her choice when some one rapped at the door. She arose to her
feet, and took a step or two forward, her heart beating swifter.

"Come in."

The door opened, and the light from the windows revealed Miss La Rue,
rather t