Uncertain, wondering, yet quite mistress of herself again, Frances went on along the corridor. Here was an open door before her into the court. Had that shadow she had seen come this way? she wondered. The hiss of a voice, almost in her ear, _did_ startle her: "My goodness! is it you, Miss Frances?" A clammy hand clutched her wrist. She knew that Pratt Sanderson must have been horribly wrought up and nervous, for he was trembling. "What is the matter? Why are you out of your bed, Pratt?" she asked, quite calmly. "I couldn't sleep. Fever in those scratches, I s'pose," said the young man. "I got up and went outside to get a drink at the fountain--and to bathe my face and wrists. Isn't it hot?" "You _are_ feverish," whispered Frances, cautiously. "Have you seen daddy?" "The Captain?" returned Pratt, wonderingly. "Oh, no. He isn't up, is he?" "He's not in his room----" "And you're not in yours," said Pratt, with a nervous laugh. "We all seem to be out of our beds at the hour when graveyards yawn, eh?" Frances had a reassuring laugh ready. "I think you would better go to bed again, Pratt," she said. "You--you saw nothing in the court?" "No. But I thought I heard a big bird overhead when I was splashing the water about out there. Imagination, of course," he added. "There are no big night-flying birds out here on the plains?" "Not that I know of," returned she. "I made some noise. I didn't know what it was I scared up. Seemed to be on the roof of the house." Frances thought of the mysterious man and his rope ladder. But she did not mention them to Pratt. "Put some more of father's salve on those scratches," she advised. "It's an Indian salve and very healing. He was taught by an old Indian medicine man to make it." "All right. Good-night, Miss Frances," said Pratt, and withdrew into his room, from which he had appeared so suddenly to accost her. Pratt's mention of "the bird on the roof" disturbed Frances a good deal. She turned to run back upstairs and learn if the ladder was still hanging from the eaves. But as she started to do so she realized that the door of the treasure room had been silently opened. "Frances!" "Oh, Dad!" "What are you running about the house for at this time o' night?" he demanded. She laughed rather hysterically. "Why are you out of your bed, sir--with your rheumatism?" she retorted. "Good reason. Thought I heard something," growled the Captain. "Good reason. Thought I _saw_ something," mocked Frances, seizing his arm. She stepped inside the room with him. He flashed an electric torch for a moment about the place. She saw he had a cot arranged at one side, and had evidently gone to bed here, beside the treasure chest. "Why is this, sir?" she demanded, with pretty seriousness. "Reckon the old man's getting nervous," said Captain Rugley. "Can't sleep in my reg'lar bed when there are strangers in the house." Frances started. "What do you mean?" she cried. "Well, there's that young man."