"I am sorry, but I am afraid you're on the wrong track. There may be a resemblance, there may even be a marked resemblance, between Miss West and the person you want to find, but--again please forgive me--I am in the place of guardian to her at present and I should like to know something of your business, enough of it, that is, to be sure that your sudden appearance, if you happen to be right in your surmise, won't frighten my leading lady out of her wits and send her off to Kalamazoo on the next train." Pierre evidently resented the fashion of this speech. "I'm sorry," he said with dignity, "not to be able to tell you anything. I'll be careful not to frighten Miss West. I can see her first from a distance an' then--" "Certainly. Certainly." Jasper rang and directed his man to get an envelope from an upstairs table. When it came, he handed it to Pierre. "That is a ticket for to-morrow night's performance. It's the best seat I can give you, though it is not very near the stage. However, you will certainly be able to recognize your--Jane, if she is your Jane." Pierre pocketed the ticket. "Thank you," he murmured. His face was expressionless. Jasper was making rapid plans. "Oh, by the way," he said hurriedly, "if you should stand near the stage exit to-night, say at about twelve o'clock, you could see Miss West come out and get into her motor. That would give you a fairly close view. But even if you find you are mistaken, Landis, be sure to see 'The Leopardess.' It's well worth your while. You're going? Won't you dine with me to-night?" "No, thank you. I wouldn't be carin' to to-night. I--I reckon I've got this matter too much on my mind. Thank you very much, Mr. Morena." "Before you go, tell me about Holliwell. He was a good friend of mine." "He was a good friend to most every one he knowed. He was more than that to me." "Then he's been a success out there?" Pierre meditated over the words. "Success? Why, yes, I reckon he's been all of that." "A difficult mission, isn't it? Trying to bring you fellows to God?" Pierre smiled. "I reckon we get closer to God out there than you do here. We sure get the fear of Him even if we don't get nothin' else. When you fight winter an' all outdoors an' come near to death with hosses an' what-not, why, I guess you're gettin' close to _somethin'_ not quite to be explained. Holliwell, he's a first-class sin-buster, best I ever knowed." Morena laughed. He was beginning to enjoy his visitor. "Sin-buster?" "That's one name fer a parson. Well, sir, I guess Holliwell is plumb close to bein' a prize devil-twister." "Tell me how you first met him. It ought to be a good story." But the young man's face grew bleak at this. "It ain't a good story, sir," he said grimly. "It ain't anything like that. I must wish you good-by, an' thank you kindly." "But you'll let me see you again? Where are you stopping? Holliwell's friends are mine."