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which resulted in Pedro's dismissal； but which now seemed clearly
attributable to some graver cause than inattention and insolence。
He recalled Mary Rogers's playful pleasantries with Susy about
Pedro； and Susy's mysterious air； which he had hitherto regarded
only as part of her exaggeration。 He remembered Mrs。 Peyton's
unwarrantable uneasiness about Susy； which he had either overlooked
or referred entirely to himself； she must have suspected something。
To his quickened imagination； in this ruin of his faith and trust；
he believed that Hooker's defection was either part of the
conspiracy； or that he had run away to avoid being implicated with
Susy in its discovery。 This； too； was the significance of Gilroy's
parting warning。 He and Mrs。 Peyton alone had been blind and
confiding in the midst of this treachery； and even HE had been blind
to his own real affections。
The wind had risen again； and the faint light on the opposite wall
grew tremulous and shifting with the movement of the foliage
without。 But presently the glow became quite obliterated； as if by
the intervention of some opaque body outside the window。 He rose
hurriedly and went to the casement。 But at the same moment he
fancied he heard the jamming of a door or window in quite another
direction； and his examination of the casement before him showed him
only the silver light of the thinly clouded sky falling
uninterruptedly through the bars and foliage on the interior of the
whitewashed embrasure。 Then a conception of his mistake flashed
across him。 The line of the casa was long； straggling； and exposed
elsewhere； why should the attempt to enter or communicate with any
one within be confined only to this single point？ And why not
satisfy himself at once if any trespassers were lounging around the
walls； and then confront them boldly in the open？ Their discovery
and identification was as important as the defeat of their intentions。
He relit the candle； and； placing it on a small table by the wall
beyond the visual range of the window； rearranged the curtain so
that； while it permitted the light to pass out； it left the room in
shadow。 He then opened the door softly； locked it behind him； and
passed noiselessly into the hall。 Susy's and Mrs。 McClosky's rooms
were at the further end of the passage； but between them and the
boudoir was the open patio； and the low murmur of the voices of
servants； who still lingered until he should dismiss them for the
night。 Turning back； he moved silently down the passage； until he
reached the narrow arched door to the garden。 This he unlocked and
opened with the same stealthy caution。 The rain had recommenced。
Not daring to risk a return to his room； he took from a peg in the
recess an old waterproof cloak and 〃sou'wester〃 of Peyton's； which
still hung there； and passed out into the night； locking the door
behind him。 To keep the knowledge of his secret patrol from the
stablemen； he did not attempt to take out his own horse； but trusted
to find some vacquero's mustang in the corral。 By good luck an old
〃Blue Grass〃 hack of Peyton's； nearest the stockade as he entered；
allowed itself to be quickly caught。 Using its rope headstall for a
bridle； Clarence vaulted on its bare back； and paced cautiously out
into the road。 Here he kept the curve of the long line of stockade
until he reached the outlying field where； half hidden in the
withered； sapless； but still standing stalks of grain； he slowly
began a circuit of the casa。
The misty gray dome above him； which an invisible moon seemed to
have quicksilvered over； alternately lightened and darkened with
passing gusts of fine rain。 Nevertheless he could see the outline
of the broad quadrangle of the house quite distinctly； except on the
west side； where a fringe of writhing willows beat the brown adobe
walls with their imploring arms at every gust。 Elsewhere nothing
moved； the view was uninterrupted to where the shining； watery sky
met the equally shining； watery plain。 He had already made a half
circuit of the house； and was still noiselessly picking his way
along the furrows； muffled with soaked and broken…down blades； and
the velvety upspringing of the 〃volunteer〃 growth； when suddenly；
not fifty yards before him； without sound or warning； a figure rode
out of the grain upon the open crossroad； and deliberately halted
with a listless； abstracted； waiting air。 Clarence instantly
recognized one of his own vacqueros； an undersized half…breed； but
he as instantly divined that he was only an outpost or confederate；
stationed to give the alarm。 The same precaution had prevented each
hearing the other； and the lesser height of the vacquero had
rendered him indistinguishable as he preceded Clarence among the
grain。 As the young man made no doubt that the real trespasser was
nearer the casa； along the line of willows； he wheeled to intercept
him without alarming his sentry。 Unfortunately； his horse answered
the rope bridle clumsily； and splashed in striking out。 The watcher
quickly raised his head； and Clarence knew that his only chance was
now to suppress him。 Determined to do this at any hazard； with a
threatening gesture he charged boldly down upon him。
But he had not crossed half the distance between them when the man
uttered an appalling cry； so wild and despairing that it seemed to
chill even the hot blood in Clarence's veins； and dashed frenziedly
down the cross…road into the interminable plain。 Before Clarence
could determine if that cry was a signal or an involuntary outburst；
it was followed instantly by the sound of frightened and struggling
hoofs clattering against the wall of the casa； and a swaying of the
shrubbery near the back gate of the patio。 Here was his real
quarry！ Without hesitation he dug his heels into the flanks of his
horse and rode furiously towards it。 As he approached； a long
tremor seemed to pass through the shrubbery； with the retreating
sound of horse hoofs。 The unseen trespasser had evidently taken the
alarm and was fleeing； and Clarence dashed in pursuit。 Following
the sound； for the shrubbery hid the fugitive from view； he passed
the last wall of the casa； but it soon became evident that the
unknown had the better horse。 The hoof…beats grew fainter and
fainter； and at times appeared even to cease； until his own approach
started them again； eventually to fade away in the distance。 In
vain Clarence dug his heels into the flanks of his heavier steed；
and regretted his own mustang； and when at last he reached the edge
of the thicket he had lost both sight and sound of the fugitive。
The descent to the lower terrace lay before him empty and desolate。
The man had escaped！
He turned slowly back with baffled anger and vindictiveness。
However； he had prevented something； although he knew not what。 The
principal had got away； but he had identified his confederate； and
for the first time held a clue to his myst