“Where have you been, Lester?” he asked. “I have looked all over town for you.” Conway explained that he had been to the depot, and reported the arrival of Morain and Fanny. Hardly had he done so, when a carriage stopped at the door, and father and daughter entered the office. “What does this mean, Mr. Coleman?” cried Fanny shrilly, as they entered the room. “Where is my husband? Why is he not here to meet me?” “If you will take a chair,” said Conway kindly, “I think he will be here soon, and Mr. Coleman will explain matters to you.” “Who are you?” demanded Fanny, turning on him; “and where is that bold, bad woman? And what does it all mean?” She sank into a chair, quivering with anger and excitement. “It is not necessary to mention that young lady in those terms,” said Conway sternly. Then turning to honest Pat, who stood open-mouthed with amazement, he said quietly: “I am afraid we are bringing a great deal of trouble on you, sir. But there has been a great wrong done, and the innocent must suffer with the guilty. Your friend here will explain it to you.” “Well, I think an explanation would be a mighty good thing,” replied Morain bluntly. “I’ve had the life bothered out of me the last two days. I can’t understand it at all.” “Mr. Coleman will explain it all,” repeated Conway. And he and Jim moved over to the window to leave the rest alone together. “I don’t think, Mr. Conway, that I can do it,” stammered the lawyer, frightened at the task. “Don’t you think, now, that Mr. Darling could do it better?” And he looked beseechingly at Jim. “In God’s name, man, spit it out!” roared Pat. “What’s the matter? Where’s Elwell?” Peter backed into a corner in front of the irate lumberman; but before he could commence his explanation, the door was burst open by a white-faced man, who hurriedly whispered to Coleman and immediately left the room, as if afraid to meet the eyes of the others. “What is it?” demanded Conway sternly. “He has not escaped?” “Yes,” said Peter; “he has escaped.” And he sank into a chair and buried his face in his hands. It was true--Elwell had escaped! There was one route that Conway had not been able to close, and the guilty man had taken it. The glittering little revolver held one life less in its chambers now! CHAPTER XXXI. THE TWO WIDOWS. The excitement in the little city, caused by the sudden death of James Elwell, was unprecedented, even by the excitement created by that gentleman’s nomination for Congress. Elwell had been popular in this little town at all times. He had always been free-handed and liberal with his money, and generally good-natured. He had been “approachable,” as the saying is, and not even his success had made him exclusive.