er arm.

"Girlie, you're not going to throw me down? You'll be good to me and
come----"

Louise shook off his hand, darted through the doorway, and quickly
closing the door turned the key in the lock. Then still grasping the
door-knob she leaned with her head against the panels, face white,
lips trembling, and her breast rising and falling stormily.

"Oh, Lee! For you to be forced to see and hear that!" she said, in a
tone of anguish.

"I think nothing of it; you could not avoid him."

After a moment she recovered herself and said, "Wait until I call
Rosita."

When she returned with the Mexican girl, she conducted Bryant to an
upper chamber where he placed Imogene upon a bed, pressed the latter's
hand assuringly, and then left her in charge of the other two while he
went below to telephone to her uncle. McDonnell had already set out
for Sarita Creek, his wife informed Lee. He had started about half an
hour before. Bryant went out of the house and entering his car drove
down the lane to the main road, where he stopped.

Soon far away in the south there was a flash of light, repeated at
intervals, until at length it grew into a steady, powerful glare that
threw his own machine into strong relief, that dazzled and blinded
him. Finally the other car stopped near by.

"What's the trouble, Jack?" McDonnell's voice came, addressed to his
chauffeur.

Bryant went forward to the banker, who was leaning out of the
limousine. He gave the information that neither of the girls was at
Sarita Creek and explained that Imogene was at the Graham house,
comfortable though ill.

"She's too sick to be removed and will probably need a nurse for a
time," he concluded. "I brought her here as soon as I learned her
condition. Miss Graham put her to bed."

"All right; I'll run in and see her. Much obliged to you, Bryant," was
the answer. Then in a vexed strain he went on, "What I expected to
happen has happened. Advice, pleadings, commands haven't prevented her
from following out this crazy affair. You may not believe it, but
she's as stubborn as a mule when she wants to be. My wife has been
almost distracted all winter. Well, I'll send up a doctor and a nurse
both as soon as I return to Kennard, if there's time before this
storm. Still at work?"

"Still digging. Will keep at it till the last minute."

"Supposed you would. That's the lane there, isn't it?"

Next minute the big car had passed Lee's and was moving up the roadway