f a place to rest in, she followed the
man summoned to escort her, and fifteen minutes after was sound asleep
on a sofa of the boarding-house.

Three hours of sleep and a partial bath did much to restore tired
nature's equilibrium; and, although her head still felt absurdly light,
Mrs. Hastings enjoyed the really excellent breakfast provided for her,
wondering how such delicacies ever got to Chloride Hill. Breakfast over,
and no news of Jack, the time began to drag wearily. She was more than
half inclined to be angry--only relenting when she remembered that she
was two or three days behind time, and of course Jack could not know
when to expect her. She had very full directions, and if she could not
find her way to Deep Canon she was a goose, that was all!

So she sent for the driver of the hack, told him to get her baggage from
the express office; and started for Deep Canon. Who should she find in
the hack but her friend of the morning!

"I could not hear of your husband," said he; "but you are sure to find
him at home."

Mrs. Hastings smiled faintly, and hoped she should. Then she gave her
thoughts to the peculiar scenery of the country, and to the sharpness of
the descent, as they whirled rapidly down the four miles of canon at the
bottom of which was the town of that name--another one of those places
which had "come up as a flower" in a morning. She longed to ask about
her husband and his "home"; but as there were several persons in the
stage, she restrained her anxiety, and said never a word until they
stopped before the door of a saloon where all the other passengers
alighted. Then she told the driver she wanted to be taken to Mr.
Hastings' house.

He didn't know where that was, he said, but would inquire.

Did he know Dr. Earle?

"That's him, ma'am;" pointing out her friend of the morning.

"How can I serve you?" he asked, raising his hat politely.

Mrs. Hastings blushed rosily, between vexation at Jack's invisibility
and confusion at being so suddenly confronted with Dr. Earle.

"Mr. Hastings instructed me to inquire of you, if I had any difficulty
in finding him," she said, apologetically.

"I will show you his place with pleasure," returned the Doctor
pleasantly; and, jumping on the box, proceeded to direct the driver.

Had ladies of Mrs. Hastings' style been as plenty in Deep Canon as in
New York, the driver would have grumbled at the no road he had to follow
along the stony side of a hill and am