"I was becoming quite alarmed," he said, aloud. "You have reason to be," returned a hurried voice. He started. It was Miss Porter, who stepped swiftly out of the cover. "Look," she said, "look at that man down the road. He has been tracking you two ever since you left the cabin. Do you know who he is?" "No!" "Then listen. It is three-fingered Dick, one of the escaped road agents. I know him!" "Let us go and warn her," said Cass, eagerly. Miss Porter laid her hand upon his shoulder. "I don't think she'll thank you," she said, dryly. "Perhaps you'd better see what she's doing, first." Utterly bewildered, yet with a strong sense of the masterfulness of his companion, he followed her. She crept like a cat through the thicket. Suddenly she paused. "Look!" she whispered, viciously, "look at the tender vigils of your heart-broken May!" Cass saw the woman who had left him a moment before on her knees on the grass, with long thin fingers digging like a ghoul in the earth. He had scarce time to notice her eager face and eyes, cast now and then back toward the spot where she had left him, before there was a crash in the bushes, and a man,--the stranger of the road,--leaped to her side. "Run," he said; "run for it now. You're watched!" "Oh! that man, Beard!" she said, contemptuously. "No, another in a wagon. Quick. Fool, you know the place now,--you can come later; run!" And half-dragging, half-lifting her, he bore her through the bushes. Scarcely had they closed behind the pair when Miss Porter ran to the spot vacated by the woman. "Look!" she cried, triumphantly, "look!" Cass looked, and sank on his knees beside her. "It _was_ worth a thousand dollars, wasn't it?" she repeated, maliciously, "wasn't it? But you ought to return it! _Really_ you ought." Cass could scarcely articulate. "But how did _you_ know it?" he finally gasped. "Oh, I suspected something; there was a woman, and you know you're _such_ a fool!" Cass rose, stiffly. "Don't be a greater fool now, but go and bring my horse and wagon from the hill, and don't say anything to the driver." "Then you did not come alone?" "No; it would have been bold and improper." "Please!" "And to think it _was_ the ring, after all, that pointed to this," she said. "The ring that _you_ returned to me." "What did you say?" "Nothing." "Don't, please, the wagon is coming." * * * * * In the next morning's edition of the "Red Chief Chronicle" appeared the following startling intelligence: EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY! FINDING OF THE STOLEN TREASURE OF WELLS, FARGO & CO. OVER $300,000 RECOVERED.