"Oh, nonsense!" ejaculated Haight. "It's a fact though; he rides up and down there once in a while, and I wouldn't want ter see him myself." "Oh, hang your ghost!" said Haight, impatiently, "tell your men if they see it to shoot it." "That wouldn't do no good," responded Maverick doggedly, "It's the sight of it brings bad luck, and sometimes death. There was a fellow here two years ago, he seen it one night, and the next day he was killed in the mines; they said the ghost had called him." "Well," said Haight, rising, "It would be well if your ghost would only call Houston and Van Dorn some night; but I want you to do as I say, anyway." Lyle, who had caught nearly every word of this conversation, now rose quickly and retreated to the kitchen, knowing she would there be safe from detection, and could also judge of their movements. Nothing further was said, however; Haight went stealthily up-stairs to his room, and Maverick, after cursing to himself a few moments, was soon snoring profoundly, and Lyle then returned to Miss Gladden's room. She felt a sickening sensation as she repeated the conversation to her friend, and realized all that it meant. Miss Gladden was inexpressibly shocked: "Lyle, my dear child, is it possible that they would go to such extreme limits as that. I had thought that he would be in danger of some assault in the dark, or something of that kind, but to trap him in the mines! I never dreamed of anything so cowardly, so dastardly! He will be in constant danger in the performance of his daily round of duties." "Dear Leslie," said Lyle,--for thus Miss Gladden had of late requested her to address her,--"I have told you, you did not realize what a place this is, and the worst of all is, that it is my father who is planning this, after all the kindness which you and Mr. Houston have shown me! What must you think of us?" "Of you, my dear child? I love you and trust you the same as ever," exclaimed Miss Gladden impulsively, "he is no father of yours!" Lyle, in her grief, did not notice the import of Miss Gladden's words, but she exclaimed passionately: "I will never call that man father again as long as I live, and if it ever comes to that, I will shoot him, rather than let him injure Mr. Houston." Then, a moment later, she added more calmly: "I must not allow myself to become excited, I must think and plan. Do you know, I was so glad that they have not, as yet, found the real clue to what is going on, and do not even suspect the truth, and they must not be allowed even to surmise it; as long as they do not, Mr. Houston is comparatively safe, and they must not be allowed to watch him, or get any clue to his movements." "But how can you prevent it, dear? You know the country and the people so much better than I, that you can plan and direct far better than I can; you command, dear Lyle, and you will find me ready to obey, afraid of nothing, not death itself, if I can only help him and save him from his enemies."