The morning times., 1895-08-25

| she was cOIllln WIN. her IOlkS WrOte
that they died like flies, and wuz all buried
together, unbeknownst and promiscuous,
and thar wasn't no remains. She slipped
away from me like that bluff on that river,
and that was the end of it.
% But she might have escaped" said
Key, quickly forgetting himselfin his eager
| ness.
But CoIlinsonun only shook his head. Then
she'd have been here" he said, gravely.
Key moved toward theduor still abstract
ledly, held out his hand, shook his compan-
ions warmly, and, saying he would saddle
his horse himself, departed. A sense of
disappointment, in which q vague dissa tis-
faction with himself was mingled, was
all thathad come of his interview. He took
himself severely to task for following his
romantic quest so far. 1t was unworthy
OF the president of the Sylvan Silver Hollow
Company, and he was not quite sure but
that his condolences with CollinsOn might
have imperied even the interests of the
| company. To atone for this momentary
alteration and correct his dismal fancies,
he resolved TO attend To some business at
SINNERS before returning, and branched
| off on long detour that would intersect
the Travelled stage road. But here singu-
into the turnpike he heard the trampling
hoof-beats and jinglng harness Of the on
coming coach behind him. He had barely
time TO draw up against the bank before
the six galloping horses and swinging vehi-
Gle swept heavily by He had a quick
| impressionofthehea dsteam ofsweating
horsehide, the reek of varnish and leather
and the momentary vision of a fema lie face
silhouetted against the glass window Of the
coach! Bat even in that flash of perception
he recognized the profile that he had seen
at the window OF the mysterious hut!
He sat for an instant dazed aud bewildered
in the dust OF the depa rtng wheels.
| Then, as the bulk of the vehicle reap
peared, already narrowing in the distance,
without second thought ne dashed afterit.
His disappointment his self-criticism, his
practical resolutions were forgotten. He
had but one idea now-thc vision was
| providential, The clue 10 the mystery was
| before him-he must follow IL!
Yet he had sense enough TO realize that
the coach would not stop to take up
passenger between stations, and that the
next station was the one three miles
below SINNERS. II would not be difficult
| to reach this by a cutoff in time, and al
crowded, he could no doubt obtain seat
on top.
His eager curiosity, however, led him TO
put spurs TO his horse ana range up along
side of the coach, as if passing it, while
he examined the stranger more closely.
Her face was bent listlessly over book;
there was Enthusiastically the same profile
that he had seen, but the full face was
] in,
strange SENSE Of disappointment that was
almost a revulsion OF feeling came over
him; he fingered he glanced again; she
was certainly a very pretty woman, there
was the beautifully rounded chin, the
short straight nose, and delicatrly curved
upper lip that he had not seen in the profile
and yet-yet it was not the same face
he had drcamt Of With an odd provoking
sense of dsilusion, he swept ahead of
the coach, and again slackencd his speed
to let it pass.
This time the fair unknown raised her
long lashes and gazed suddenly at this
persistent hoTscman a her side, and an odd
! expression it seemed To him almost n glance
OF recognition and expectation, came into
her dark, languid eyes. The pupils con
centrated upon him with a singular sig
reply to his glance-and yet it was as
utterly unintelligible. 4 moment later,
however, ii was explained. He had fallen
slightly behind in a new confusion of
hesitation, wonder and embarrassment,
when, from u wooded TRAN to the right,
7 another horseman suddenly swept into
! the road before him. He was powerfully
built man mounted on u thoroughbred horse
I Of a fnr a ha ~
roadster. Without looking a Key he easily
ranged up beside the coach as if to pass it,
but Key with a sudden resolution put spurs
to his own horse and ranged also abreast
OF him, in time to see his fair unknown
start a the apparition Of this second horse
man and unmistakably convey some signal
TO him-a signal that TO Keys fancy now
betrayed some warning OF himself. He was
| the more convinced as the stranger, after
continuing a few PAGES ahead of the coach,
| allowed it TO pass him at curve OF the road,
and slackened his pace TO permit Key TO do
the same. Instinctively conscious that the
! strangers object was toscrutinizc or identify
him, he determined TO take the initiative,
and fixed his eyes upon him as they ap-
! preached But the stranger, who wore
loose brown linen duster over clothes
and material, also had part of his face
and head draped by white silk hand
kerchief worn under his hat, ostensibly to
keep the sun and dust from his head and
Deck-and had the advantage OF him.
He only caught the flash of pair of steel
gray eyes, as the newcomer, apparently
| having satisfied himself, gave rein to his
spirited steed and easily repassed the coach,
| disappearing in cloud of dust before it,
But Key had by this time reached the
''cut-off," which the stranger, if he
! intended to follow the coach, either dis
daiDed or was ignorant Of, and he urged
his horse to its utmostspeed. Even with the
strangers advantages it would be a close
race to the station.
Nevertheless, as he dashed on he was by
no means insensible to the somew hat
| QuiXotic nature of his undertaking If
he was right in his suspicion that signal
had been given by the fady to the stranger
it was exceedingly probable that he had
discovered not only the fair inmate of the
robbers den, but one of the gang itself,
or at least a confederate and ally. Yet,
far from deterring him, III that ingenious
| sophistry with which he was apt to treat
his romance, he now looked upon his ad-s
venture as a practical pursuit in the in
terests of law and justice. 1t was true
that 1t was said that the band of road
agents had been dispersed; it was q fact
that there had been 10 Spoliation of coach
or teams for three weeks, but none of the
depredators had ever been caught, and their
booty, which was considerable, was known
TO be still intact 1t was to the interest