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of her heart； offered to make a place for it in her satchel； which was not
full。 I accepted the offer joyfully。 When I state to you； gentlemen； that
that package contained valuable government bonds to a considerable
amount； I do so； not to claim your praise for any originality of my own；
but to make this public avowal to our fair fellow passenger for securing to
me this most perfect security and immunity from the road agent that has
been yet recorded。〃
With his eyes riveted on the lady's face； Key saw a faint color rise to
her otherwise impassive face； which might have been called out by the
enthusiastic praise that followed the lawyer's confession。 But he was
painfully conscious of what now seemed to him a monstrous situation！
Here was； he believed； the actual accomplice of the road agents calmly
receiving the complacent and puerile confessions of the men who were
seeking to outwit them。 Could he； in ordinary justice to them； to himself；
or the mission he conceived he was pursuing； refrain from exposing her； or
warning them privately？ But was he certain？ Was a vague
remembrance of a profile momentarily seenand； as he must even now
admit； inconsistent with the full face he was gazing atsufficient for such
an accusation？ More than that； was the protection she had apparently
afforded the lawyer consistent with the function of an accomplice！
〃Then if the danger's over；〃 said the lady gently； reaching down to
draw her satchel from under the seat； 〃I suppose I may return it to you。〃
〃By no means！ Don't trouble yourself！ Pray allow me to still
remain your debtor；at least as far as the next station；〃 said the lawyer
gallantly。
The lady uttered a languid sigh； sank back in her seat； and calmly
settled herself to the perusal of her book。 Key felt his cheeks beginning
to burn with the embarrassment and shame of his evident misconception。
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And here he was on his way to Marysville； to follow a woman for whom
he felt he no longer cared； and for whose pursuit he had no longer the
excuse of justice。
〃Then I understand that you have twice seen these road agents；〃 said
the professional man； turning to the miner。 〃Of course； you could be able
to identify them？〃
〃Nary a man！ You see they're all masked； and only one of 'em ever
speaks。〃
〃The leader or chief？〃
〃No； the orator。〃
〃The orator？〃 repeated the professional man in amazement。
〃Well； you see； I call him the orator； for he's mighty glib with his
tongue； and reels off all he has to say like as if he had it by heart。 He's
mighty rough on you； too； sometimes； for all his high… toned style。 Ef he
thinks a man is hidin' anything he jest scalps him with his tongue； and
blamed if I don't think he likes the chance of doin' it。 He's got a regular
set speech； and he's bound to go through it all； even if he makes
everything wait； and runs the risk of capture。 Yet he ain't the chief；and
even I've heard folks say ain't got any responsibility if he is took； for he
don't tech anybody or anybody's money； and couldn't be prosecuted。 I
reckon he's some sort of a broken…down lawyerd'ye see？〃
〃Not much of a lawyer； I imagine；〃 said the professional man； smiling；
〃for he'll find himself quite mistaken as to his share of responsibility。
But it's a rather clever way of concealing the identity of the real leader。〃
〃It's the smartest gang that was ever started in the Sierras。 They
fooled the sheriff of Sierra the other day。 They gave him a sort of idea
that they had a kind of hidin'…place in the woods whar they met and kept
their booty； and； by jinks！ he goes down thar with his hull posse；just
spilin' for a fight；and only lights upon a gang of innocent greenhorns；
who were boring for silver on the very spot where he allowed the robbers
had their den！ He ain't held up his head since。〃
Key cast a quick glance at the lady to see the effect of this revelation。
But her faceif the same profile he had seen at the windowbetrayed
neither concern nor curiosity。 He let his eyes drop to the smart boot that
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
peeped from below her gown； and the thought of his trying to identify it
with the slipper he had picked up seemed to him as ridiculous as his other
misconceptions。 He sank back gloomily in his seat； by degrees the
fatigue and excitement of the day began to mercifully benumb his senses；
twilight had fallen and the talk had ceased。 The lady had allowed her
book to drop in her lap as the darkness gathered； and had closed her eyes；
he closed his own； and slipped away presently into a dream； in which he
saw the profile again as he had seen it in the darkness of the hollow； only
that this time it changed to a full face； unlike the lady's or any one he had
ever seen。 Then the window seemed to open with a rattle； and he again
felt the cool odors of the forest； but he awoke to find that the lady had only
opened her window for a breath of fresh air。 It was nearly eight o' clock；
it would be an hour yet before the coach stopped at the next station for
supper； the passengers were drowsily nodding； he closed his eyes and fell
into a deeper sleep； from which he awoke with a start。
The coach had stopped！
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CHAPTER IV。
〃It can't be Three Pines yet；〃 said a passenger's voice； in which the
laziness of sleep still lingered； 〃or else we've snoozed over five mile。 I
don't see no lights； wot are we stoppin' for？〃 The other passengers
struggled to an upright position。 One nearest the window opened it； its
place was instantly occupied by the double muzzle of a shot…gun！ No
one moved。 In the awestricken silence the voice of the driver rose in
drawling protestation。
〃It ain't no business o' mine； but it sorter strikes me that you chaps are
a…playin' it just a little too fine this time！ It ain't three miles from Three
Pine Station and forty men。 Of course； that's your lookout；not mine！〃
The audacity of the thing had evidently struck even the usually taciturn
and phlegmatic driver into his first expostulation on record。
〃Your thoughtful consideration does you great credit；〃 said a voice
from the darkness； 〃and shall be properly presented to our manager； but at
the same time we wish it understood that we do not hesitate to take any
risks in strict attention to our business and our clients。 In the mean time
you will expedite matters； and give your passengers a chance to get an
early tea at Three Pines； by handing down that treasure…box and mail…
pouch。 Be car