Then still grasping the door-knob she leaned with her head against the panels, face white, lips trembling, and her breast rising and falling stormily.
"Oh, Lee! For you to be forced to see and hear that!" she said, in a tone of anguish.
"I think nothing of it; you could not avoid him." After a moment she recovered herself and said, "Wait until I call Rosita." When she returned with the Mexican girl, she conducted Bryant to an upper chamber where he placed Imogene upon a bed, pressed the latter's hand assuringly, and then left her in charge of the other two while he went below to telephone to her uncle.

McDonnell had already set out for Sarita Creek, his wife informed Lee.

He had started about half an hour before.

Bryant went out of the house and entering his car drove down the lane to the main road, where he stopped.
Soon far away in the south there was a flash of light, repeated at intervals, until at length it grew into a steady, powerful glare that threw his own machine into strong relief, that dazzled and blinded him.

Finally the other car stopped near by.
"What's the trouble, Jack ?" McDonnell's voice came, addressed to his chauffeur.
Bryant went forward to the banker, who was leaning out of the limousine.