"Well, she didn't exactly tell. I got her to admit it. She said that you talked like a professional salesman in selling me to her father." "It wasn't difficult. You see I had a good article to sell. When your goods have real merit it isn't hard to make a sale." "Ruth, I am leaving tonight." "Will you be gone long?" "I am not sure. At least four or five days. I have to go early to get ready. I did not want to go without having a little visit with you." "Once before when you were leaving we pulled a wishbone." "Yes, and you won and made three wishes. You haven't told me yet what you wished." "No, they haven't all come true yet." "You can tell me about the ones that have come true, can't you?" "No, not yet. If I were to tell you now that would break the charm and the others would not come true. Say, do you want to pull another wishbone? I've got one in here, but there isn't any meat on this one." "Well, we don't want the meat on it when we pull it. Come on, let's wish." She went into the kitchen and secured the wishbone. "This is a small one," she said. "It should be good for two wishes," he said, "if the other was sufficient to carry three." "All right, here goes for two wishes." He took every advantage in the hold that he secured and the quick twist that he gave it when she was ready. He won, and she said, "That wasn't fair; you cheated." "You won the other time," he replied, "and it was my time to win." He said he must leave, and she accompanied him to the front porch. He said good-night and took several steps down the walk, then turned back and talked a while longer. "Well, I must go," he said, but he remained ten minutes more. Finally he screwed his courage to the sticking point, leaned over and kissed her cheek. She playfully slapped him, as she said, "You naughty boy." The combined effect of the kiss and slap sent him away happy. After leaving Ruth, Harold had only time enough to pack his grip and make the California Limited. The same day that Ruth had given Harold the description of Dick Watson, he sent the description to the heads of the Klan in every state in the Union. Within a week three million secret service men were looking for the missing bank cashier. This afternoon Harold had received a telegram informing him that his man had been located by Klansmen in Arizona. Chapter XXVI The bookkeeper of the S & M mine had worked for an hour after the miners had quit work, balancing his books for the day. All of the other clerks had left the office. He had closed the big ledger and had drawn a sigh of relief. Just then the office door opened and a tall athletic young man entered. He approached the bookkeeper and extended his hand. "My name is King." "My name is Watson. Are you stopping in the camp, Mr. King?" "I expect to be here but a short time. How is the mining business?"