"Oh!" said Murray, remembering suddenly. How in the name of everything could a Chinaman pick upon such a name as that--a name of poetry, of romance, almost of oblivion! A sudden distaste for that name seized upon Murray. The girl read the sardonic thoughts in his face, and turned away. A coldness was upon her when she spoke; as it were, a veil was drawn between them. "If you'll bring the suitcase inside, please, we'll get Father fixed up comfortably." Murray obeyed dumbly. Half an hour later, he started for Two Palms. He should have covered the few intervening miles in no time, but one of his forward tires blew out with a roar and left him sitting thoughtfully in the mountain places. By the time complete darkness fell, he had found a spare tube and was patching up the blown tire with fumbling fingers. Presently he got the stubborn rubber obedient to his wishes, and for fifteen minutes labored over a wheezing pump. It was nearly midnight when he came laboring into Two Palms under the flooding moonlight, and with sighs of fervent relief brought his vehicle to a halt beside the dark and silent frame of the hotel. "No, I guess I'll stick to the name," he thought, as he climbed out and gazed at the silvern glory of the night. "Clairedelune! Shall I let a big yellow man drive all the romance out of things? Not yet. Find the best that remains in your life, my boy, and transmute it into precious metal if you can; you need it! Well, it's been a strenuous day--I'm for bed. Time enough in the morning to organize the rescue party." CHAPTER VI DEADOAK FEELS REMORSE Haywire Smithers had at one time maintained a livery, which was now defunct. However, he disinterred an ancient surrey, hitched up one of Piute's horses, oiled his springs, and set forth with Murray to fetch in Tom Lee and Claire. Before leaving town, however, Murray was interviewed by Sandy Mackintavers, who laid bare the little deal in real estate. Murray listened without comment, his keen eyes searching the heavy features of Mackintavers. "I thought," he said quietly, "that you had decided to throw overboard all the shady tricks of yesterday, Sandy?" Mackintavers flushed. "Shady? And what's shady about this, will ye tell me?" "Giving a note that you don't expect to pay, for one thing." "Wasn't the paper worthless that I gave it for?" "No matter; it was unnecessary. That note will be met and paid, Sandy." "Man, ye don't understand this game!" said Sandy with earnest conviction. "There was nothin' wrong about it; one man get ahead of the other, that's all! Aiblins, now----" "Aiblins, now," and Murray smiled quickly, "we're partners, so say no more about it. Only, after this, let me in on these little deals, Mac; if I'd been here last night, you'd not have given that note. After this, we'll pull together--and go slow. I'll wager that when Hobbs gets back, you'll find that you've been neatly stung." "How?"