at
canyon, and that was the end of it."

"But she might have escaped," said Key quickly, forgetting himself in
his eagerness.

But Collinson only shook his head. "Then she'd have been here," he
said gravely.

Key moved towards the door still abstractedly, held out his hand, shook
that of his companion warmly, and then, saddling his horse himself,
departed. A sense of disappointment--in which a vague dissatisfaction
with himself was mingled--was all that had come of his interview. He
took himself severely to task for following his romantic quest so far.
It was unworthy of the president of the Sylvan Silver Hollow Company,
and he was not quite sure but that his confidences with Collinson might
have imperiled even the interests of the company. To atone for this
momentary aberration, and correct his dismal fancies, he resolved to
attend to some business at Skinner's before returning, and branched off
on a long detour that would intersect the traveled stage-road. But
here a singular incident overtook him. As he wheeled into the
turnpike, he heard the trampling hoof-beats and jingling harness of the
oncoming coach behind him. He had barely time to draw up against the
bank before the six galloping horses and swinging vehicle swept heavily
by. He had a quick impression of the heat and steam of sweating
horse-hide, the reek of varnish and leather, and the momentary vision
of a female face silhouetted against the glass window of the coach!
But even in that flash of perception he recognized the profile that he
had seen at the window of the mysterious hut!

He halted for an instant dazed and bewildered in the dust of the
departing wheels. Then, as the bulk of the vehicle reappeared, already
narrowing in the distance, without a second thought he dashed after it.
His disappointment, his self-criticism, his practical resolutions were
forgotten. He had but one idea now--the vision was providential! The
clue to the mystery was before him--he MUST follow it!

Yet he had sense enough to realize that the coach would not stop to
take up a passenger between stations, and that the next station was the
one three miles below Skinner's. It would not be difficult to reach
this by a cut-off in time, and although the vehicle had appeared to be
crowded, he could no doubt obtain a seat on top.

His eager curiosity, however, led him to put spurs to his horse, and
range up alongside of the coach as if passing it, while he examined th