She paced the floor in wrathful meditation, pondering means and expedients. Once or twice she noticed the ring, but passed it several times before she paused, picked it up, and abstractedly placed it on her finger. It did not once occur to her that she could raise money by hypothecating the jewel at a pawn-shop: by hook or crook she was determined to regain her own money. She was wondering what good it would do her to threaten Quard with arrest. Had a wife any right to her earnings, under the law? After a time, she opened her handbag, found her personal bunch of keys, and unlocked her husband's trunk. Her pains, however, went for nothing; she investigated diligently every pocket of his clothing without discovering a piece of money of any description. But one thing she did find to make her thoughtful--Quard's revolver.... Removing this last, she relocked the trunk and rang for a bell-boy. Then she put the weapon on the bureau and covered it with her hat. The youth who answered had an intelligent look. Joan appraised him narrowly before trusting him. She opened negotiations with a dollar tip. "I want you to find my husband for me," she said. "If he's anywhere around the hotel, he'll probably be in the bar. But look everywhere, and then come and tell me. You needn't say anything to him. I just want to know where he is. Do you understand?" "Yes, ma'm." "You'd know him if you saw him--Mr. Quard, the actor?" "Yes, ma'm." "That's all. Hurry." As soon as the boy was gone she turned again to her luggage, selecting indispensable garments and toilet articles and packing them in a suit-case. By the time a knock sounded again upon the door, she had the case strapped and locked. "He ain't nowhere about the house, ma'm," the bell-boy reported. "He was in the bar a while, but he's went out." Joan nodded, was dumb in thought. "Do you want as I should go look for him, ma'am?" "Can you leave the hotel?" Joan asked quickly. "I'm just going off-duty now, ma'm; the night shift came on about ten minutes ago, at six o'clock." "And you think you could possibly find him?" "He took a cab, ma'm. The driver's stand is in front of the hotel. If I can find him, I can find where your husband went. Anyhow, it ain't hard to follow up a gentleman as--" "As drunk!" Joan put in when the boy hesitated. "Yes, ma'm." Joan weighed the chance distrustfully; but it was at least a chance, and this was no time to be careful. Taking a five-dollar gold-piece from her scanty store, she gave it to the boy. "Go find him," she said. "And if he seems to know what he's doing--just hang around until he doesn't: he won't keep you waiting long. Then bring him to me. But first take this suit-case down to the Union Ferry house, check it in the baggage-room, and give me the check when you bring him back. And--don't say anything to anybody." "Yes, ma'm--no, ma'm." Supperless, she sat down to wait, Quard's revolver ready to her hand.