r
one thing she must draw Prosper Gael completely out of Betty's life.

Jasper made his guest comfortable, sat opposite to him, and lighted a
cigarette. Although Pierre had accepted one, he did not smoke. He was
far too disturbed.

"Frank Holliwell gave me a note to you, Mr. Morena. I got your address
some years ago from Yarnall, of Lazy-Y Ranch, Middle Fork, Wyoming.
I've been gettin' my affairs into shape ever since, so that I could
come East. I don't rightly know whether Yarnall would have wrote to
you concernin' me or no."

"Yes. He did write--just a line--two years ago."

Pierre studied his own long, brown hands, turning the soft hat between
them. When he lifted his eyes, they were intensely blue. It was as
though blue fire had consumed the smoke.

"I've been takin' after a girl. She was called Jane on Yarnall's ranch
an' she was cook there for the outfit. Nobody knowed her story nor her
name. She left the mornin' I came in an' I didn't set eyes on her. You
were takin' her East to teach her to play-act for you. I don't know
whether you done so or not, but I've come here to learn where she is
so that I can find out if she's the woman I'm lookin' for."

Morena smiled kindly. "You've come a long way, Mr. Landis, on an
uncertainty."

"Yes, sir." Pierre did not smile. He was holding himself steady. "But
I'm used to uncertainty. There ain't no uncertainty that can keep me
from seekin' after the person I want." He paused, the eyes still fixed
upon Morena, who, uncomfortable under them, veiled himself thinly in
cigarette smoke. "I want to see this Jane," Pierre ended gently.

"Nothing easier, Landis. I'll give you a ticket to 'The Leopardess.'
She is acting the title part. She is my leading lady and a very
extraordinary young actress. Of course, it's none of my business, but
in a way I am Miss West's guardian--"

"Miss West?"

"Yes. That is Jane's name--Jane West. You think it is an assumed one?"

Pierre stood up. "I'm not thinkin' on this trip," he said; "I'm
hopin'."

"I am sorry, but I am afraid you're on the wrong track. There may be a
resemblance, there may even be a marked resemblance, between Miss West
and the person you want to find, but--again please forgive me--I am in
the place of guardian to her at present and I should like to know
something of your business, enough of it, that is, to be sure that
your sudden appearance, if you happen to be right in your surmise,
won't frighten my leading lady o