He did send it. It reached Billy Beebe some days later, to his no small mystification--Jeff Bransford was unmarried. Yet the address was indubitably in Jeff’s handwriting. Taking Leo Ballinger into consultation, he carried it unopened to John Wesley Pringle; taking also a letter for that person, bearing an El Paso postmark many days earlier than the one for the mysterious Mrs. Bransford. Both had lain long in the Escondido office before any one passed going to Rainbow, so the two letters reached there together. Pringle’s letter was brief: EL PASO, Texas, March 20. MR. JOHN WESLEY PRINGLE, Rainbow, N. M. _Dear Sir_: Your friend, Mr. Jeff Bransford, came here some time since on some business with Mr. Simon Hibler--whose clerk I am. Mr. Hibler was on a trip to San Simon, Arizona, and I did not know exactly when he would return. Mr. Bransford decided to wait for him. We became great friends and he rather made his headquarters with me. He told me a great deal about you. On the night of March 16th, Mr. Bransford was with me until almost midnight, when he started for his rooms. So far as I can learn he has not been seen or heard of since; his effects are still at his lodgings. He did not take the street car home. I inquired carefully of all the men. It is now the fourth day since his disappearance and I am much distressed. I have lodged information with the police--but, between you and me, I don’t feel any enthusiasm about the police. If you have any knowledge of his whereabouts I wish you would be so kind as to drop me a line. If you know nothing, I hope that you and the other friends he spoke of so often would come down, and I will put myself at your orders. I am uneasy. As you doubtless know, this is one awful tough town. Trusting to hear good news at an early date, I remain, Yours truly, GEO. T. AUGHINBAUGH. 112 Temple Street. On reading this John Wesley took it upon himself to open the letter for the non-existent Mrs. Bransford. From that cryptic document they gathered three things only. First, Jeff was under duress; his letter was written to pass inspection by hostile eyes. Second, Leo Ballinger was to visit Uncle Sim and to learn typewriting. Third, George would tell them what to do. There was no George at Rainbow; Leo’s only uncle, Simon Hibler, lived in El Paso, his clerk’s name was George. The inference was plain. The next day the three friends presented themselves at 112 Temple Street. Chapter IX “And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong.”