of the little
entertainment. You're as game as they make them."

"May I ask how you arrived at this melodramatic conclusion?" she asked,
her disdainful lip curling.

"By using my eyes and my ears, ma'am. I shouldn't have noticed your
likeness to Major Mackenzie, perhaps, if I hadn't observed that there
was a secret understanding between you. Now, whyfor should you be
passing as strangers? I could guess one reason, and only one. There have
twice been attempted hold-ups of the paymaster of the Yuba reservoir.
It was to avoid any more of these that Major Mackenzie took charge
personally of paying the men. He has made good up till now. But there
have been rumors for months that he would be held up either before
leaving the train or while he was crossing the desert. He didn't want to
be seen taking the boodle from the express company at Tucson. He would
rather have the impression get out that this was just a casual visit. It
occurred to him to bring along some unsuspected party to help him out.
The robbers would never expect to find the money on a woman. That's why
the major brought his daughter with him. Doesn't it make you some uneasy
to be carrying fifty thousand in small bills sewed in your clothes and
hung round your neck?"

She broke into musical laughter, natural and easy. "I don't happen to
have fifty thousand with me."

"Oh, well, say forty thousand. I'm no wizard to guess the exact figure."

Her swift glance at him was almost timid.

"Nor forty thousand," she murmured.

"I should think, ma'am, you'd crinkle more than a silk-lined lady
sailing down a church aisle on Sunday."

A picture in the magazine she was toying with seemed to interest her.

"I expect that's the signal for 'Exit Collins.' I'll say good-by till
next time, Miss Mackenzie."

"Oh, is there going to be a next time?" she asked, with elaborate
carelessness.

"Several of them."

"Indeed!"

He took a notebook from his pocket and wrote.

"I ain't the son of a prophet, but I'm venturing a prediction," he
explained.

She had nothing to say, and she said it competently.

"Concerning an investment in futurities I'm making," he continued.

Her magazine article seemed to be beginning, well.

"It's a little guess about how this train robbery is coming out. If you
don't mind, I'll leave it with you." He tore the page out, put it in an
empty envelope, sealed the flap, and handed it to her.

"Open it in a month, and see whether my guess is