a car
going back toward her hotel.

The car had proceeded only about half a block, however, when it stopped
again, and two people, a man and a woman, stepped aboard, and seated
themselves next to her.

They seemed to be absorbed in earnest conversation, and did not appear to
notice any one about them.

The woman was an elderly person, rather fine looking, with a good figure,
and an erect, graceful bearing. Her hair was almost white, and there were
deep wrinkles in her forehead, at the corners of her eyes, and about her
mouth, although they were somewhat concealed, or softened, by the thickly
spotted black lace veil which she wore; but on the whole she was an
agreeable looking person, and her manner was full of energy and vitality.

Her companion was a rather rough-appearing personage and dressed like a
Western farmer or miner, rather coarsely handsome, and with an easy,
off-hand manner that was quite attractive, and he might have been thirty
or thirty-five years of age.

"What a dark skin--what black hair and beard, with blue eyes!" was Mona's
mental comment, as she observed this peculiarity about him. He also had
very white teeth, which contrasted strikingly with the intense blackness
of his mustache and beard.

He appeared to be quite disturbed about something, and talked to his
companion rapidly and excitedly, but in low tones.

"You were very imprudent to try to dispose of so many at one place," Mona
overheard his companion say, in reply to some observation which he had
previously made, and then a great shock went tingling through all her
nerves as her glance fell upon the dress which the woman wore.

It was a fine, heavy ladies' cloth, of a delicate shade of gray--just the
color, Mona was confident, of that tiny piece of goods which Ray had
shown her at Hazeldean, and which had been torn from the dress of the
woman who had trapped him into Doctor Wesselhoff's residence, and stolen
his diamonds.

She was very much excited for a few moments, and her heart beat with
rapid throbs.

Could it be possible that this woman had been concerned in that robbery?

That woman had had red hair, and according to Ray's description, was much
younger; but she might possibly be the other one, who had made
arrangements with the physician for Ray's treatment. At all events,
Mona was impressed that she had found the dress in which the fascinating
Mrs. Vanderbeck had figured so conspicuously.

Her face flushed, her fingers