l prove handy. I'm off.
I leave the lads with you. I'm going to find out three things: How
Ferd, the dwarf, managed to break jail that night and leave no sign;
who robbed that mail pouch; and where Antonio Bernal is at this
precious minute."

"Here, at your service, amigo!" cried a mocking voice, outside the
shuttered window. A voice that all recognized at once as belonging to
the late manager; yet, when Ephraim had hastily run out and around to
that side of the house, there was nobody within sight; and nothing to
be heard save the series of terrified shrieks which issued from the
room he had left.

CHAPTER XIV.

TAKING THE DOCTOR'S ADVICE

For almost the first time in his life Ninian Sharp was under the
doctor's hands; and that gentleman's verdict upon his patient's case
was simple and plain:

"Nothing the matter with you but breakdown. The result of doing two
men's work instead of one. What you need, and all you need, is a
complete change of thought and scene. Go off on some ranch and take a
vacation. That's your medicine."

"Thank you, doctor, but a prescription upon the nearest drug store
would be easier to fill. In the first place I should worry all the
time if I were idle, for 'hustling' has become my second nature. In
the second--where shall I go?"

The physician shrugged his shoulders. He, also, was a busy man and
having finished his visit to his patient did not prolong it. He picked
up his hat, remarked that he "didn't doubt so clever a young man could
find a fitting place, if he gave what was left of his mind to it," and
bowed himself out, leaving the leaven of his sensible advice to
accomplish its legitimate result.

As the doctor left the room the nurse entered, bearing with her a
telegram which had been delayed en route, and a letter. It was with
some reluctance that she delivered these to the man on the lounge, yet
realizing, at the same time, how much worse for him was absolute
cessation of all his ordinary interests. With a solicitous smile, she
inquired:

"Would you not better let me read these first? They are probably
unimportant."

"Thank you, no. I'm not yet reduced to imbecility and prefer to
examine my own correspondence," returned the invalid, fretfully. Then
as if ashamed of his petulance, and with a return to his ordinary
manner, added: "This telegram might as well have walked. Would have
saved time, judging by the date of it; and as for this letter--that,
certainly, has