She may be going back west with some one." "Mr.Gowdy told us back in Independence," returned Elder Thorndyke, "that he had inquired of every outfit he met from the time she left him clear back to that place; and he overtook the only two teams on that whole stretch of road that were going east.

It is hard to understand.
It's a mystery." "Was he going on east ?" I asked--and I thought I heard a stir in the bed back of me as I waited for the answer.
"No," said the elder, "he is coming back this way, hunting high and low for her.

I have no doubt he will find her.

She can not have reached a point much farther east than this.

She is sure to be found somewhere between here and Independence--or within a short distance of here.