She ought to be back now," he added, no longer mindful of Brace's presence; "the coach is over-due now, though I reckon the heat made Yuba Bill take it easy at the up grade." "If you mean the coach from Indian Spring," said Brace quietly, "it's in already; but Miss Nellie didn't come on it." "Maybe she got out at the Crossing," said Wynn cheerfully; "she sometimes does." "She didn't take the coach at Indian Spring," returned Brace, "because I saw it leave, and passed it on Buckskin ten minutes ago, coming up the hills." "She's stopped over at Burnham's," said Wynn reflectively.

Then, in response to the significant silence of his guests, he added, in a tone of chagrin which his forced heartiness could not disguise, "Well, boys, it's a disappointment all round; but we must take the lesson as it comes.

I'll go over to the coach office and see if she's sent any word.
Make yourselves at home until I return." When the door had closed behind him, Brace arose and took his hat as if to go.

With his hand on the lock, he turned to his rival, who, half-hidden in the gathering darkness, still seemed unable to comprehend his ill-luck.
"If you're waiting for that bald-headed fraud to come back with the truth about his daughter," said Brace coolly, "you'd better send for your things and take up your lodgings here." "What do you mean ?" said Dunn sternly.
"I mean that she's not at the Burnhams'; I mean that he does or does not know _where_ she is, and that in either case he is not likely to give you information.

But I can." "You can ?" "Yes." "Then, where is she ?" "In the Carquinez Woods, in the arms of the man you were just defending--Low, the half-breed." The room had become so dark that from the road nothing could be distinguished.