urbed. Keith could see it and waited.

After a moment of silence the iron man rose from the swivel chair,
walked to the window, gazed out for another moment, and walked back
again, twisting one of his big gray mustaches in a way that betrayed
the stress of his emotion. "Confound it, Conniston, you've got a mind
for seeking out the trivialities, and little things are sometimes the
most embarrassing."

"And sometimes most important," added Keith. "For instance, it strikes
me as mighty important that we should know where Peter Kirkstone is and
why he is not here fighting for his sister's salvation. Where is he?"

"I don't know. He disappeared from town a month ago. Miriam says he is
somewhere in British Columbia looking over some old mining properties.
She doesn't know just where."

"And you believe her?"

The eyes of the two men met. There was no longer excuse for
equivocation. Both understood.

McDowell smiled in recognition of the fact. "No. I think, Conniston,
that she is the most wonderful little liar that lives. And the
beautiful part of it is, she is lying for a purpose. Imagine Peter
Kirkstone, who isn't worth the powder to blow him to Hades, interested
in old mines or anything else that promises industry or production! And
the most inconceivable thing about the whole mess is that Miriam
worships that fat and worthless pig of a brother. I've tried to find
him in British Columbia. Failed, of course. Another proof that this
affair between Miriam and Shan Tung isn't a voluntary liaison on her
part. She's lying. She's walking on a pavement of lies. If she told the
truth--"

"There are some truths which one cannot tell about oneself,"
interrupted Keith. "They must be discovered or buried. And I'm going
deeper into this prospecting and undertaking business this afternoon.
I've got another hunch. I think I'll have something interesting to
report before night."

Ten minutes later, on his way to the Shack, he was discussing with
himself the modus operandi of that "hunch." It had come to him in an
instant, a flash of inspiration. That afternoon he would see Miriam
Kirkstone and question her about Peter. Then he would return to
McDowell, lay stress on the importance of the brother, tell him that he
had a clew which he wanted to follow, and suggest finally a swift trip
to British Columbia. He would take Mary Josephine, lie low until his
term of service expired, and then report by letter to McDowell that he
had faile