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believed with Sister Seraphina that the young girl would make her direct
appeal to her brother； but even if she sought Mrs。 Barker； it would still be
at some of the haunts of the gang。 The letter to the Lady Superior had
been postmarked from 〃Bald Top；〃 which Key knew to be an obscure
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settlement less frequented than Skinner's。 Even then it was hardly
possible that the chief of the road agents would present himself at the post…
office； and it had probably been left by some less known of the gang。 A
vague idea； that was hardly a suspicion； that the girl might have a secret
address of her brother's； without understanding the reasons for its secrecy；
came into his mind。 A still more vague hope； that he might meet her
before she found her brother； upheld him。 It would be an accidental
meeting on her part； for he no longer dared to hope that she would seek or
trust him again。 And it was with very little of his old sanguine quality
that； travel…worn and weary； he at last alighted at Skinner's。 But his half
careless inquiry if any lady passengers had lately arrived there； to his
embarrassment produced a broad smile on the face of Skinner。
〃You're the second man that asked that question； Mr。 Key；〃 he said。
〃The second man？〃 ejaculated Key nervously。
〃Yes the first was the sheriff of Sierra。 He wanted to find a tall；
good…looking woman； about thirty； with black eyes。 I hope that ain't the
kind o' girl you're looking arteris it？ for I reckon she's gin you both the
slip。〃
Key protested with a forced laugh that it was not； yet suddenly
hesitated to describe Alice； for he instantly recognized the portrait of her
friend； the assumed Mrs。 Barker。 Skinner continued in lazy confidence：
〃Ye see they say that the sheriff had sorter got the dead wood on that
gang o' road agents； and had hemmed 'em in somewhar betwixt Bald Top
and Collinson's。 But that woman was one o' their spies； and spotted his
little game； and managed to give 'em the tip； so they got clean away。
Anyhow； they ain't bin heard from since。 But the big shake has made
scoutin' along the ledges rather stiff work for the sheriff。 They say the
valley near Long Canyon's chock full o' rock and slumgullion that's
slipped down。〃
〃What do you mean by the big shake？〃 asked Key in surprise。
〃Great Scott！ you didn't hear of it？ Didn't hear of the 'arthquake that
shook us up all along Galloper's the other night？ Well；〃 he added
disgustedly； 〃that's jist the conceit of them folks in the bay； that can't allow
that ANYTHIN' happens in the mountains！〃
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The urgent telegrams of his foreman now flashed across Key's
preoccupied mind。 Possibly Skinner saw his concern； 〃I reckon your
mine is all right； Mr。 Key。 One of your men was over yere last night； and
didn't say nothin'。〃
But this did not satisfy Key； and in a few minutes he had mounted his
horse and was speeding towards the Hollow； with a remorseful
consciousness of having neglected his colleagues' interests。 For himself；
in the utter prepossession of his passion for Alice； he cared nothing。 As
he dashed down the slope to the Hollow； he thought only of the two
momentous days that she had passed there； and the fate that had brought
them so nearly together。 There was nothing to recall its sylvan beauty in
the hideous works that now possessed it； or the substantial dwelling…house
that had taken the place of the old cabin。 A few hurried questions to the
foreman satisfied him of the integrity of the property。 There had been
some alarm in the shaft； but there was no subsidence of the 〃seam；〃 nor
any difficulty in the working。 〃What I telegraphed you for； Mr。 Key； was
about something that has cropped up way back o' the earthquake。 We
were served here the other day with a legal notice of a claim to the mine；
on account of previous work done on the ledge by the last occupant。〃
〃But the cabin was built by a gang of thieves； who used it as a hoard
for their booty；〃 returned Key hotly； 〃and every one of them are outlaws；
and have no standing before the law。〃 He stopped with a pang as he
thought of Alice。 And the blood rushed to his cheeks as the foreman
quietly continued：
〃But the claim ain't in any o' their names。 It's allowed to be the gift
of their leader to his young sister； afore the outlawry； and it's in HER
nameAlice Riggs or something。〃
Of the half…dozen tumultuous thoughts that passed through Key's mind；
only one remained。 It was purely an act of the brother's to secure some
possible future benefit for his sister。 And of this she was perfectly
ignorant！ He recovered himself quickly； and said with a smile：
〃But I discovered the ledge and its auriferous character myself。 There
was no trace or sign of previous discovery or mining occupation。〃
〃So I jedged； and so I said； and thet puts ye all right。 But I thought
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I'd tell ye； for mining laws is mining laws； and it's the one thing ye can't
get over；〃 he added； with the peculiar superstitious reverence of the
Californian miner for that vested authority。
But Key scarcely listened。 All that he had heard seemed only to link
him more fatefully and indissolubly with the young girl。 He was already
impatient of even this slight delay in his quest。 In his perplexity his
thoughts had reverted to Collinson's： the mill was a good point to begin his
search from； its good…natured； stupid proprietor might be his guide； his
ally； and even his confidant。
When his horse was baited； he was again in the saddle。 〃If yer going
Collinson's way； yer might ask him if he's lost a horse；〃 said the foreman。
〃The morning after the shake； some of the boys picked up a mustang； with
a make…up lady's saddle on。〃 Key started！ While it was impossible that
it could have been ridden by Alice； it might have been by the woman who
had preceded her。
〃Did you make any search？〃 he inquired eagerly； 〃there may have
been an accident。〃
〃I reckon it wasn't no accident；〃 returned the foreman coolly； 〃for the
riata was loose and trailing； as if it had been staked out； and broken away。〃
Without another word； Key put spurs to his horse and galloped away；
leaving his companion staring after him。 Here was a clue： the horse
could not have strayed far； the broken tether indicated a camp； the gang
had been gathered somewhere in the vicinity where Mrs。 Barker had
warned them；perhaps in the wood beyond Collinson's。 He would
penetrate it alone。 He knew his danger； but as a SINGLE unarmed man
he might be admitted to the presence of t