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all directions； and sought her everywhere； but without success。 You will
understand that we wish to avoid scandal； which a more public inquiry
would create。〃
〃And you come to me；〃 said Key； with a return of his first suspicion； in
spite of his eagerness to cut short the interview and be free to act；〃to me；
almost a stranger？〃
〃Not a stranger； Mr。 Key；〃 returned the religieuse gently； 〃but to a
well…known mana man of affairs in the country where this unhappy
child's brother livesa friend who seems to be sent by Heaven to find out
this brother for us； and speed this news to him。 We come to the old pupil
of Father Cipriano； a friend of the Holy Church； to the kindly gentleman
who knows what it is to have dear relations of his own； and who only
yesterday was seeking the convent to〃
〃Enough！〃 interrupted Key hurriedly； with a slight color。 〃I will go at
once。 I do not know this man； but I will do my best to find him。 And
thisthisyoung girl？ You say you have no trace of her？ May she not
still be here？ I should have some clue by which to seek herI mean that
I could give to her brother。〃
〃Alas！ we fear she is already far away from here。 If she went at once
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to San Luis； she could have easily taken a train to San Francisco before we
discovered her flight。 We believe that it was the poor child's intent to
join her brother； so as to intercede for her friendor； perhaps； alas！ to seek
her。〃
〃And this friend left yesterday morning？〃 he said quickly； yet
concealing a feeling of relief。 〃Well； you may depend on me！ And now；
as there is no time to be lost； I will make my arrangements to take the next
train。〃 He held out his hand； paused； and said in almost boyish
embarrassment： 〃Bid me God speed； Sister Seraphina！〃
〃May the Holy Virgin aid you；〃 she said gently。 Yet； as she passed
out of the door； with a grateful smile； a characteristic reaction came over
Key。 His romantic belief in the interposition of Providence was not
without a tendency to apply the ordinary rules of human evidence to such
phenomena。 Sister Seraphina's application to him seemed little short of
miraculous interference； but what if it were only a trick to get rid of him；
while the girl； whose escapade had been discovered； was either under
restraint in the convent； or hiding in Santa Luisa？ Yet this did not
prevent him from mechanically continuing his arrangements for departure。
When they were completed； and he had barely time to get to the station at
San Luis； he again lingered in vague expectation of some determining
event。
The appearance of a servant with a telegraphic message at this moment
seemed to be an answer to this instinctive feeling。 He tore it open hastily。
But it was only a single line from his foreman at the mine； which had been
repeated to him from the company's office in San Francisco。 It read；
〃Come at onceimportant。〃
Disappointed as it left him； it determined his action； and as the train
steamed out of San Luis； it for a while diverted his attention from the
object of his pursuit。 In any event； his destination would have been
Skinner's or the Hollow； as the point from which to begin his search。 He
believed with Sister Seraphina that the young girl would make her direct
appeal to her brother； but even if she sought Mrs。 Barker； it would still be
at some of the haunts of the gang。 The letter to the Lady Superior had
been postmarked from 〃Bald Top；〃 which Key knew to be an obscure
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settlement less frequented than Skinner's。 Even then it was hardly
possible that the chief of the road agents would present himself at the post…
office； and it had probably been left by some less known of the gang。 A
vague idea； that was hardly a suspicion； that the girl might have a secret
address of her brother's； without understanding the reasons for its secrecy；
came into his mind。 A still more vague hope； that he might meet her
before she found her brother； upheld him。 It would be an accidental
meeting on her part； for he no longer dared to hope that she would seek or
trust him again。 And it was with very little of his old sanguine quality
that； travel…worn and weary； he at last alighted at Skinner's。 But his half
careless inquiry if any lady passengers had lately arrived there； to his
embarrassment produced a broad smile on the face of Skinner。
〃You're the second man that asked that question； Mr。 Key；〃 he said。
〃The second man？〃 ejaculated Key nervously。
〃Yes the first was the sheriff of Sierra。 He wanted to find a tall；
good…looking woman； about thirty； with black eyes。 I hope that ain't the
kind o' girl you're looking arteris it？ for I reckon she's gin you both the
slip。〃
Key protested with a forced laugh that it was not； yet suddenly
hesitated to describe Alice； for he instantly recognized the portrait of her
friend； the assumed Mrs。 Barker。 Skinner continued in lazy confidence：
〃Ye see they say that the sheriff had sorter got the dead wood on that
gang o' road agents； and had hemmed 'em in somewhar betwixt Bald Top
and Collinson's。 But that woman was one o' their spies； and spotted his
little game； and managed to give 'em the tip； so they got clean away。
Anyhow； they ain't bin heard from since。 But the big shake has made
scoutin' along the ledges rather stiff work for the sheriff。 They say the
valley near Long Canyon's chock full o' rock and slumgullion that's
slipped down。〃
〃What do you mean by the big shake？〃 asked Key in surprise。
〃Great Scott！ you didn't hear of it？ Didn't hear of the 'arthquake that
shook us up all along Galloper's the other night？ Well；〃 he added
disgustedly； 〃that's jist the conceit of them folks in the bay； that can't allow
that ANYTHIN' happens in the mountains！〃