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eventually flew away with an abstracted air； as if he had been
another bird entirely。 The paper got into a manzanita bush； where
it remained suspended until the evening； when； being dislodged by a
passing wild…cat on its way to Mulrady's hen…roost； it gave that
delicately sensitive marauder such a turn that she fled into the
adjacent county。
But the troubles of the squirrel were not yet over。 On the
following day the young man who had accompanied the young woman
returned to the trunk； and the squirrel had barely time to make his
escape before the impatient visitor approached the opening of the
cavity； peered into it； and even passed his hand through its
recesses。 The delight visible upon his anxious and serious face at
the disappearance of the letter； and the apparent proof that it had
been called for； showed him to have been its original depositor；
and probably awakened a remorseful recollection in the dark bosom
of the omnipresent crow； who uttered a conscious…stricken croak
from the bough above him。 But the young man quickly disappeared
again； and the squirrel was once more left in undisputed
possession。
A week passed。 A weary； anxious interval to Don Caesar； who had
neither seen nor heard from Mamie since their last meeting。 Too
conscious of his own self…respect to call at the house after the
equivocal conduct of Mrs。 Mulrady； and too proud to haunt the lanes
and approaches in the hope of meeting her daughter； like an
ordinary lover； he hid his gloomy thoughts in the monastic shadows
of the courtyard at Los Gatos； or found relief in furious riding at
night and early morning on the highway。 Once or twice the up…stage
had been overtaken and passed by a rushing figure as shadowy as a
phantom horseman； with only the star…like point of a cigarette to
indicate its humanity。 It was in one of these fierce recreations
that he was obliged to stop in early morning at the blacksmith's
shop at Rough…and…Ready； to have a loosend horseshoe replaced； and
while waiting picked up a newspaper。 Don Caesar seldom read the
papers； but noticing that this was the 〃Record；〃 he glanced at its
columns。 A familiar name suddenly flashed out of the dark type
like a spark from the anvil。 With a brain and heart that seemed to
be beating in unison with the blacksmith's sledge； he read as
follows：
〃Our distinguished fellow…townsman； Alvin Mulrady； Esq。； left town
day before yesterday to attend an important meeting of directors of
the Red Dog Ditch Company； in San Francisco。 Society will regret
to hear that Mrs。 Mulrady and her beautiful and accomplished
daughter； who are expecting to depart for Europe at the end of the
month； anticipated the event nearly a fortnight； by taking this
opportunity of accompanying Mr。 Mulrady as far as San Francisco； on
their way to the East。 Mrs。 and Miss Mulrady intend to visit
London； Paris； and Berlin； and will be absent three years。 It is
possible that Mr。 Mulrady may join them later at one or other of
those capitals。 Considerable disappointment is felt that a more
extended leave…taking was not possible； and that； under the
circumstances； no opportunity was offered for a 'send off' suitable
to the condition of the parties and the esteem in which they are
held in Rough…and…Ready。〃
The paper dropped from his hands。 Gone！ and without a word！ No；
that was impossible！ There must be some mistake； she had written；
the letter had miscarried； she must have sent word to Los Gatos；
and the stupid messenger had blundered； she had probably appointed
another meeting； or expected him to follow to San Francisco。 〃The
day before yesterday！〃 It was the morning's papershe had been
gone scarcely two daysit was not too late yet to receive a
delayed message by post； by some forgetful handbyahthe tree！
Of course it was in the tree； and he had not been there for a week！
Why had he not thought of it before？ The fault was his； not hers。
Perhaps she had gone away； believing him faithless； or a country
boor。
〃In the name of the Devil； will you keep me here till eternity！〃
The blacksmith stared at him。 Don Caesar suddenly remembered that
he was speaking； as he was thinkingin Spanish。
〃Ten dollars； my friend； if you have done in five minutes！〃
The man laughed。 〃That's good enough American；〃 he said； beginning
to quicken his efforts。 Don Caesar again took up the paper。 There
was another paragraph that recalled his last interview with Mamie：
〃Mr。 Harry Slinn； Jr。； the editor of this paper； has just moved
into the pioneer house formerly occupied by Alvin Mulrady； Esq。；
which has already become historic in the annals of the county。 Mr。
Slinn brings with him his fatherH。 J。 Slinn； Esq。；and his two
sisters。 Mr。 Slinn； Sen。； who has been suffering for many years
from complete paralysis； we understand is slowly improving； and it
is by the advice of his physicians that he has chosen the
invigorating air of the foothills as a change to the debilitating
heat of Sacramento。〃
The affair had been quickly settled； certainly； reflected Don
Caesar； with a slight chill of jealousy； as he thought of Mamie's
interest in the young editor。 But the next moment he dismissed it
from his mind； all except a dull consciousness that； if she really
loved himDon Caesaras he loved her； she could not have assisted
in throwing into his society the young sisters of the editor； who
she expected might be so attractive。
Within the five minutes the horse was ready； and Don Caesar in the
saddle again。 In less than half an hour he was at the wayside
boulder。 Here he picketed his horse； and took the narrow foot…
trail through the hollow。 It did not take him long to reach their
old trysting…place。 With a beating heart he approached the
decaying trunk and looked into the cavity。 There was no letter
there！
A few blackened nuts and some of the dry moss he had put there were
lying on the ground at its roots。 He could not remember whether
they were there when he had last visited the spot。 He began to
grope in the cavity with both hands。 His fingers struck against
the sharp angles of a flat paper packet： a thrill of joy ran
through them and stopped his beating heart； he drew out the hidden
object； and was chilled with disappointment。
It was an ordinary…sized envelope of yellowish…brown paper；
bearing； besides the usual government stamp； the official legend of
an express company； and showing its age as much by this record of a
now obsolete carrying service as by the discoloration of time and
atmosphere。 Its weight； which was heavier than that of any
ordinary letter of the same size and thickness； was evidently due
to some loose enclosures； that slightly rustled and could be felt
by the fingers； like minute pieces of metal or grains of gravel。
It was within Don Caesar's experience that gold specimens were
often sent in that manner。 It was in a state of singular
preservation； except the address； which； being written in pencil；
was scarcely discernible； and even when deciphered appeared to be
incoherent and unfinished。 The unknown correspondent had written
〃dear Mary；〃 and then 〃Mrs。 Mary Slinn；〃 with an unintelligible
scrawl following for the direction。 If Don Caesar's mind had not
been lately preoccupied with the name of the editor； he would
hardly have guessed the superscription。
In his cruel disappointment and fully aroused indignation； he at
once began to suspect a connection of circumstances which at any
other moment he would have thought purely accidental； or perhaps
not have considered at all。 The cavity in the tree had evidently
been used as a secret receptacle for letters before； did Mamie know
it at the time； and how did she know it？ The apparent age of the
letter made it preposterous to suppose that it pointed to any
secret correspondence of hers with young Mr。 Slinn； and the address
was not in her handwriting。 Was there any secret previous intimacy
between the families？ There was but one way in which he could
connect this letter with Mamie's faithlessness。 It was an
infamous； a grotesquely horrible idea； a thought which sprang as
much from his inexperience of the world and his habitual
suspiciousness of all humor as anything else！ It was that the
letter was a brutal joke of Slinn'sa joke perhaps concocted by
Mamie and himselfa parting insult that should at the last moment
proclaim their treachery and his own credulity。 Doubtless it
contained a declaration of their shame； and the reason why she had
fled from him without a word of explanation。 And the enclosure； of
course； was some significant and degrading illustration。 Those
Americans are full of those low conceits； it was their national
vulgarity。
He had the letter in his angry hand。 He could break it open if he
wished and satisfy himself； but it was not addressed to HIM； and
the instinct of honor； strong even in his rage； was the instinct of
an adversary as well。 No； Slinn should open the letter before him。
Slinn should explain everything； and answer for it。 If it was
nothinga mere accidentit would lead to some general
explanation； and perhaps even news of Mamie。 But he would arraign
Slinn； and at once。 He put the letter