The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 311: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GOLD quick footsteps crossed the threshold and entered the room. “Teresa! Miss Travis! What in the world does this mean? ” The girls drew apart, flushed and angry. It was Whipple himself who had come. He stood before them, his calm face, for once in his life, the very picture of surprise and consternation. CHAPTER XN. “TDESPISE You! ” THE manager was covered with dust from his long ride across the desert: In spite of the rigorous work that had en- gaged him during the five preceding days, his progress toward recovery had not been impaired, but hastened. Returning health showed in the swarthy hue of his face, and his every movement was instinct with the reserve strength and determination character- istic of him. Never was he more the man of iron and of action than he was now. A half audible cry escaped .Teresa. The manager had come! Now they would see. She turned her angry eyes on Amy, and something of the manager’s sur- prise was reflected in her own face when Amy, tightening her lips after one quick, indrawn “breath, turned slowly and walked to the wall near her desk. Removing her hat and hanging it in its proper place, Amy seated herself in her chair. Deep silence reigned in the office, and Whipple watched the dramatic scene curiously. “This is very strange,” said he, after atime. “ Will you tell me what it 1s all about, Miss Travis?” “ Let Teresa tell vou,” was the reply in dull; lifeless tones. “It is her right and her duty to do so.” Amy leaned her head on her hana and waited. Whipple faced the Mert- cana. “Well, Teresa?” said he interroga- tively. “Senor,” answered Teresa, “I had but just told the senorita that Hen- derson, one of the men who set upon GLEANERS. 307 you that night at the tanks, is in the old mine.” “ Here, at the Golden Eagle? ” Whipple's fund of surprise appeared to have been exhausted. He had re- lapsed into his usual phlegmatic calm, and was not again to he startled out of it. “ Yes, senor,’ said Teresa, disap- pointed to have her news received so coolly. “ You discovered this, c¢ Yes.”’ “When and how? ”’ She recited the experience in detail, Whipple listening intently. “And you have told no one?” the manager asked when she had finished. ““ No one, senor, except the seiorita.” Teresa turned a quick look on Amy, then once more brought her eyes back to the manager. “ The senorita was bound that she would go “I think I understand that part of it, Teresa,” he interrupted. “It was very clever of you to keep this information to yourself. The horses and buckboard are at the boarding-house. Will you take the rig to your father’s corral, and have a riding horse put under saddle for me at once?” “ You are going awav again, senor? ” she asked, with a sinking heart. “Tam going to Cache d’Oro, and can- not remain here very long. Will you hurry, please?” Vv é; 3 Teresa 2’ “T will do what you wish,” and Teresa ran out of the office. When alone with Amy, Whipple walked over to her side. “T have been to Wickenburg with Sheriff Christopher, Miss Travis,” he said. “We had information that Jeff- ries was at the Royal Ophir mine, near that place. The clue was a good one, for Jeffries had really been working at the Roval Ophir, but in some wav he scented trouble and decamped hefore we got there, helping himself in his ficht by stealing a horse. “ Christopher ‘and I trailed the fel- low to Castle Creek, through the mountains to Prescott. then back to Wickenburg and Phenix. Our latest knowledge of his whereabouts leaves him somewhere in the vicinity of Cache d’Oro. Christopher started for the COMM ElOOO CO