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swept ahead of the coach； and again slackened his speed to let it pass。
This time the fair unknown raised her long lashes and gazed suddenly at
this persistent horseman at her side； and an odd expression； it seemed to
him almost a glance of recognition and expectation； came into her dark；
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languid eyes。 The pupils concentrated upon him with a singular
significance； that was almost； he even thought； a reply to his glance； and
yet it was as utterly unintelligible。 A moment later； however； it was
explained。 He had fallen slightly behind in a new confusion of hesitation；
wonder； and embarrassment； when from a wooded trail to the right；
another horseman suddenly swept into the road before him。 He was a
powerfully built man； mounted on a thoroughbred horse of a quality far
superior to the ordinary roadster。 Without looking at Key he easily
ranged up beside the coach as if to pass it； but Key； with a sudden
resolution； put spurs to his own horse and ranged also abreast of him； in
time to see his fair unknown start at the apparition of this second
horseman and unmistakably convey some signal to him；a signal that to
Key's fancy now betrayed some warning of himself。 He was the more
convinced as the stranger； after continuing a few paces ahead of the coach；
allowed it to pass him at a curve of the road； and slackened his pace to
permit Key to do the same。 Instinctively conscious that the stranger's
object was to scrutinize or identify him； he determined to take the
initiative； and fixed his eyes upon him as they approached。 But the
stranger； who wore a loose brown linen duster over clothes that appeared
to be superior in fashion and material； also had part of his face and head
draped by a white silk handkerchief worn under his hat； ostensibly to keep
the sun and dust from his head and neck；and had the advantage of him。
He only caught the flash of a pair of steel…gray eyes； as the newcomer；
apparently having satisfied himself； gave rein to his spirited steed and
easily repassed the coach； disappearing in a cloud of dust before it。 But
Key had by this time reached the 〃cut…off；〃 which the stranger； if he
intended to follow the coach； either disdained or was ignorant of； and he
urged his horse to its utmost speed。 Even with the stranger's advantages
it would be a close race to the station。
Nevertheless； as he dashed on； he was by no means insensible to the
somewhat quixotic nature of his undertaking。 If he was right in his
suspicion that a signal had been given by the lady to the stranger； it was
exceedingly probable that he had discovered not only the fair inmate of the
robbers' den； but one of the gang itself； or at least a confederate and ally。
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Yet far from deterring him； in that ingenious sophistry with which he was
apt to treat his romance； he now looked upon his adventure as a practical
pursuit in the interests of law and justice。 It was true that it was said that
the band of road agents had been dispersed； it was a fact that there had
been no spoliation of coach or teams for three weeks； but none of the
depredators had ever been caught； and their booty； which was considerable；
was known to be still intact。 It was to the interest of the mine； his
partners； and his workmen that this clue to a danger which threatened the
locality should be followed to the end。 As to the lady； in spite of the
disappointment that still rankled in his breast； he could be magnanimous！
She might be the paramour of the strange horseman； she might be only
escaping from some hateful companionship by his aid。 And yet one thing
puzzled him： she was evidently not acquainted with the personality of the
active gang； for she had； without doubt； at first mistaken HIM for one of
them； and after recognizing her real accomplice had communicated her
mistake to him。
It was a great relief to him when the rough and tangled 〃cut…off〃 at last
broadened and lightened into the turnpike road again； and he beheld；
scarcely a quarter of a mile before him； the dust cloud that overhung the
coach as it drew up at the lonely wayside station。 He was in time； for he
knew that the horses were changed there； but a sudden fear that the fair
unknown might alight； or take some other conveyance； made him still spur
his jaded steed forward。 As he neared the station he glanced eagerly
around for the other horseman； but he was nowhere to be seen。 He had
evidently either abandoned the chase or ridden ahead。
It seemed equally a part of what he believed was a providential
intercession； that on arriving at the station he found there was a vacant seat
inside the coach。 It was diagonally opposite that occupied by the lady；
and he was thus enabled to study her face as it was bent over her book；
whose pages； however； she scarcely turned。 After her first casual glance
of curiosity at the new passenger； she seemed to take no more notice of
him； and Key began to wonder if he had not mistaken her previous
interrogating look。 Nor was it his only disturbing query； he was conscious
of the same disappointment now that he could examine her face more
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attentively； as in his first cursory glance。 She was certainly handsome； if
there was no longer the freshness of youth； there was still the indefinable
charm of the woman of thirty； and with it the delicate curves of matured
muliebrity and repose。 There were lines； particularly around the mouth
and fringed eyelids； that were deepened as by pain； and the chin； even in
its rounded fullness； had the angle of determination。 From what was
visible； below the brown linen duster that she wore； she appeared to be
tastefully although not richly dressed。
As the coach at last drove away from the station； a grizzled； farmer…
looking man seated beside her uttered a sigh of relief； so palpable as to
attract the general attention。 Turning to his fair neighbor with a smile of
uncouth but good…humored apology； he said in explanation：
〃You'll excuse me； miss！ I don't know ezactly how YOU'RE feelin'；
for judging from your looks and gin'ral gait； you're a stranger in these
parts；but ez for ME； I don't mind sayin' that I never feel ezactly safe
from these yer road agents and stage robbers ontil arter we pass Skinner's
station。 All along thet Galloper's Ridge it's jest tech and go like； the
woods is swarmin' with 'em。 But once past Skinner's； you're all right。
They never dare go below that。 So ef you don't mind； miss； for it's bein'
in your presence； I'll jest pull off my butes and ease my feet for a spell。〃
Neither the inconsequence of this singular request； nor the smile it
evoked on the faces of the other passengers； seemed to disturb the lady's
abstraction。 Scarcely lifting her eyes from her book； she bowed a grave
assent。
〃You see； miss；〃 he continued； 〃and you gents；〃 he added； taking the
whole coach into his confidence； 〃I've got over forty ounces of clean gold
dust in them butes； between the upper and lower sole； and it's mighty
tight packing for my feet。 Ye kin heft it；〃 he said； as he removed one
boot and held it up before them。 〃I put the dust there for safety
kalkilatin' that while these road gentry allus goes for a man's pockets and
his body belt； they never thinks of his butes； or haven't time to go through
'em。〃 He looked around him with a smile of self…satisfaction。
The mur