"Aaron King, by all that's holy!" cried the Ranger, coming quickly down the steps and toward the shadowy horseman. "What's the matter? Anything wrong with Sibyl or Myra Willard? What brings you up here, this time of night?" Aaron King heard the questions with sinking heart. But so certain had he come to feel that the girl would be at the Station, that he said mechanically, as he dropped wearily from his horse to grasp his friend's hand, "I followed Sibyl. How long has she been here?" Brian Oakley spoke quickly; "Sibyl is not here, Aaron." The artist caught the Ranger's arm. "Do you mean, Brian, that she has not been here to-day?" "She has not been here," returned the officer, coolly. "Good God!" exclaimed the other, stunned and bewildered by the positive words. Blindly, he turned toward his horse. Brian Oakley, stepping forward, put his hand on the artist's shoulder. "Come, old man, pull yourself together and let a little light in on this matter," he said calmly. "Tell me what has happened. Why did you expect to find Sibyl here?" When Aaron King had finished his story, the other said, still without excitement, "Come into the house. You're about all in. I heard Doctor Gordan's 'auto' going up the canyon to Morton's about an hour ago. Their baby's sick. If Sibyl was on the road, he would have passed her. I'll throw the saddle on Max, and we'll run over there and see what he knows. But first, you've got to have a bite to eat." The young man protested but the Ranger said firmly, "You can eat while I saddle; come. I wish Mary was home," he added, as he set out some cold meat and bread. "She is in Los Angeles with her sister. I'll call you when I'm ready." He spoke the last word from the door as he went out. The artist tried to eat; but with little success. He was again mounted and ready to go when the Ranger rode up from the barn on the chestnut. When they reached the point where the road to Morton's ranch leaves the main canyon road, Brian Oakley said, "It's barely possible that she went on up to Carleton's. But I think we better go to Morton's and see the Doctor first. We don't want to miss him. Did you meet any one as you came up? I mean after you got within two or three miles of the mouth of the canyon?" "No," replied the other. "Why?" "A man on a horse passed the Station about seven o'clock, going down. Where did the Doctor pass you?" "He didn't pass me." "What?" said the Ranger, sharply. "No one passed me after I left Fairlands." "Hu-m-m. If Doc left town before you, he must have had a puncture or something, or he would have passed the Station before he did." It was ten o'clock when the two men arrived at the Morton ranch. "We don't want to start any excitement," said the officer, as they drew rein at the corral gate. "You stay here and I'll drop in--casual like."