r:

"This car will take us straight back to the hospital. We've not been
away long and I think Mr. Hale will still be there. He'll be glad to
see you. _Very glad._ He and Mr. Sharp have been looking for you. I think
you can tell them something they're anxious to know. Ephraim is there,
anyhow. He, poor fellow, can't go away, even if he wishes--yet."

Mr. Hale was still in "Forty-niner's" room and recognized Antonio with
such an outburst of surprise that Ephraim opened his eyes, for he had
been dozing, and fixed them on the newcomer, inquiringly.

"What! You, you snake! _you here?_"

"But certainly, yes. I, I, Antonio, at your service. Hast the broken
leer? This is bad. Old bones are slow to heal. You will not shoot again
at dear Sobrante, you."

"Won't? Well, I rather guess it'll take somebody stronger 'n you to
stop it."

Antonio shrugged his shoulders in a manner deemed offensive by the
patient, who struggled to rise, but was prevented by Jessica's quick
movement.

"Ephraim! Antonio! Don't quarrel, this very first minute. One of you
is sick and the other half frantic with some trouble. Please, Antonio,
go away now with Mr. Hale and Mr. Sharp. One must never make a noise in a
hospital," said this wise maiden of eleven.

"Ah! so? But it is the lawyer I want, yet. The lawyer who will make a
villain return the great money I have given. _Caramba!_ If I had him in
my hands this minute!"

Jessica lifted a warning finger and the manager lowered his voice.
He even made an attempt at soothing Ephraim, but chose an unfortunate
argument.

"Take peace to yourself, 'Forty-niner.' All must be told some day.
_Adios._"

"_Adios_, you foreign serpent! Old? Old! he calls me--me--old! Why,
I'm a babe in arms to Pedro, or Fra Mateo, or even fat Brigida, who
washes for us 'boys.' Old! A man but just turned eighty! Snake, I'll
outlive you yet. I'll get well, to spite you; and I'll be on hand,
when they let you out the lockup, to give you the neatest horsewhippin'
you ever see. Old! Get out!"

Fearful of further excitement, the gentlemen hurried Antonio away, yet
kept a keen watch upon his movements for, at that word "lockup," the
man's dark face had turned to an ashen hue.

As they left the hospital the every-busy ambulance rolled past them
toward the accident ward. The others averted their eyes, but the Spaniard
peered curiously within, and, instantly a shuddering groan burst from
his lips. Inside that van lay the solutio