ng back the door and ventured forth
upon the shadowed porch, standing behind the low railing, where those
passing below were little likely to notice her presence. Her head
throbbed and ached, and she loosened her heavy hair, pressing her palms
to the temples. The boy returned at last hurriedly, bare-headed, but
unaccompanied, and she met him at the top of the steps, realizing, even
before he spoke, that those she sought had not been found.

"Not there? Neither there?"

"No, Miss." The clerk was breathing hard from his run, but his tone
was sympathetic. "Darned if I did n't hustle that outfit from pit to
boxes, but nobody there seemed to sabe this yere Brown. Mercedes, she
was there all right, 'bout ten minutes ago, but just naturally faded
away before I hit the shebang. Doorkeeper piped it she had a guy with
her when she broke loose, an' he reckoned she must have lit out fer
home."

"For home?" a faint ray of light breaking from the word. "Where does
the girl live? Do you know?"

"Sure; I 'm wise; she has a couple of dandy rooms over at the old fort,
just across the creek; you know where that is, don't you?"

She nodded silently, her eyes brightening with resolution.

"It 's a blame tough bit of hiking to take alone on a dark night like
this," he commented gravely. "You was n't plannin' to try any such
trip as that, was you, Miss?"

"Oh, no; certainly not. I'm going upstairs to wait for daylight. But
I thank you so much," and she cordially extended her hand. "You see,
I--I could hardly go to the Gayety myself at such an hour."

The boy colored, still clasping the extended hand. Something in her
low tone had served to recall to his mind those hasty words uttered in
the office.

"Sure not, Miss Norvell; it's a bit tough, all right, for anybody like
you down there at this time o' night."

She opened the door, the bright light from within shining about her
slender figure, yet leaving her face still in shadow.

"Did--did you chance to notice if Mr. Farnham remained in the dance
hall?"

"Biff Farnham?" in sudden, choking surprise. "Great guns, do you know
him, too? No, he was n't there, but I can tell you where he is, all
the same. He 's at the Palace Livery, saddling up, along with half a
dozen other fellows. I saw 'em as I come trottin' along back, and
wondered what the dickens was on tap at this time o' night."

The girl made no attempt to answer. She stood clutching the edge of
the door