He came back with the desired paper and a fountain pen and she
scribbled:

Mrs. Mary Haines, Rockvale, Montana. Care Double Cross Ranch.

Arrive Thursday at 8 a.m. Will explain haste when see you.,

Pauline Marvin."

"Run down and 'phone that to the telegraph office," she told Harry.
"And now for the packing, Margaret." She thrust a tiny foot in a pink
slipper over the edge of the bed.

"But you are ill, Miss Marvin," protested the nurse with a first faint
assertion of authority.

"That's so," said Polly. "How can we get around that? Oh, yes; it's
time for your airing, dear--and when you come back I shall be well
and packed."

"Plenty of air," suggested Harry sarcastically from the doorway, "if it
takes you as long to pack as it does to put on your hat."

Pauline flung him a laughing grimace and he strode off to the library.
As he was repeating the brief message to the telegraph office he did
not hear the light footfalls that ceased at the library door, nor could
he see the drawn, gray face of Owen who heard the message spoken over
the telephone, and was passing up the stairs with his slow, dignified
tread when Harry came into the hall.

"Good morning, Mr. Harry. I see you are quite yourself again.
Yesterday was a terrible day."

"You do look done up," retorted Harry, curtly, as he picked up his
hat.

Owen's step was not slow or dignified after the door shut upon Harry.
He sprang up the last stairs and into his own room.

Here on a small writing desk was another telephone. He snatched it up
nervously and gave the call number of the place where he had held his
first conference with Hicks.

He held a brief conversation over the wire, snapped down the receiver,
sprang to a wardrobe for his hat and stick and hurried from the house.

The dullness that a sleepless night had left in his eyes had
disappeared. The fear that had shaken him ever since the uncanny
reappearance of Harry and Pauline was dissipated, or at least concealed
by a new hope--a new plan of destruction.

He knew only that Pauline was going away and that she must be followed
--no matter whither her whims might lead.

Hicks was seated in a corner of the rendezvous drinking whiskey and
water. He was plainly in a black mood.

"You got a pretty fat roll yesterday, Hicks. But," Owen drew out his
wallet, "here is a little. Get yourself ready to make a trip
tomorrow. I'll let you know the time and the train."

Hicks looked covet