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For they had dressed and dined hastily and e all the way down…town to see Le Mire； they waited for her for two hours and a half in stuffy theater seats； and Le Mire did not appear。
The announcement was finally made by the manager of the theater at a little before eleven…o'clock。 He could not understand； he said…the poor fellow was on the point of wringing his hands with agitation and despair…he could not understand why the dancer did not arrive。
She had rehearsed in the theater on the previous Thursday afternoon； and had then seemed to have every intention of fulfilling her engagement。 No one connected with the theater had seen her since that time； but everything had gone smoothly； they had had no reason to fear such a contretemps as her nonappearance。
They had sent to her hotel； she was gone； bag and baggage。
She had departed on Friday； leaving no word as to her destination。
They had asked the police； the hotels； the railroads； the steamship panies…and could find no trace of her。
The manager only hoped…he hoped with all his heart…that his frank and unreserved explanation would appease his kind patrons and prevent their resentment； that they would understand… I made my way out of the theater as rapidly as possible； with Billy Du Mont at my side； and started north on Broadway。
My panion was laughing unrestrainedly。
〃What a joke！〃 he exclaimed。 〃And gad； what a woman！ She es in and turns the town upside down and then leaves it standing on its head。 What wouldn't I give to know her！〃
I nodded； but said nothing。 At Forty…Second Street we turned east to Fifth Avenue； and a few minutes later were at the club。
I took Du Mont to a secluded corner of the grill； and there； with a bottle of wine between us； I spoke。
〃Billy；〃 said I； 〃there's the deuce to pay。 You're an old friend of mine； and you possess a share of discretion； and you've got to help me。 Le Mire is gone。 I must find her。〃
〃Find Le Mire？〃 He stared at me in amazement。 〃What for？〃
〃Because my brother Harry is with her。〃
Then I explained in as few words as possible； and I ended； I think； with something like this：
〃You know； Billy； there are very few things in the world I consider of any value。 She can have the lad's money； and； if necessary； my own into the bargain。 But the name of Lamar must remain clean； and I tell you there is more than a name in danger。
Whoever that woman touches she kills。 And Harry is only a boy。〃
Billy helped me； as I knew he would； nor did he insist on unnecessary details。 I didn't need his assistance in the search； for I felt that I could acplish that as well alone。
But it was certainly known that Harry had been calling on Le Mire at her hotel； conjectures were sure to be made； leading to the assertions of busy tongues； and it was the part of my friend to counteract and smother the inevitable gossip。 This he promised to do； and I knew Billy。 As for finding Harry； it was too late to do anything that night； and I went home and to bed。
The next morning I began by calling at her hotel。 But though the manager of the theater had gotten no information from them； he had pumped them dry。 They knew nothing。
I dared not go to the police； and probably they would have been unable to give me any assistance if I had sought it。 The only other possible source of information I disliked to use； but after racking my brain for the better part of the day I decided that there was nothing else for it； and started on a round of the ticket offices of the railroads and steamship panies。
I had immediate success。 My first call was at the office where Harry and I were accustomed to arrange our transportation。
As I entered the head clerk…or whatever they call him…advanced to greet me with a smile。
〃Yes；〃 said he in response to my question； 〃Mr。 Lamar got his tickets from me。 Let's see…Thursday； wasn't it？ No； Friday。 That's right…Friday。〃
〃Tickets！〃 I muttered to myself。 And in my preoccupation I really neglected to listen to him。 Then aloud： 〃Where were the…tickets for？〃
〃Denver。〃
〃For Friday's train？〃
〃Yes。 The Western Express。〃
That was all I wanted to know。 I hurried home； procured a couple of hastily packed bags； and took the afternoon train for the West。
Chapter III。
A MODERN MARANA。
My journey westward was an eventful one； but this is not a 〃History of Tom Jones；〃 and I shall refrain from detail。 Denver I reached at last； after a week's stop…over in Kansas City。 It was a delightful adventure…but it had nothing to do with the story。
I left the train at the Rocky Mountain city about the middle of the afternoon。 And now； what to do？ I think I am not a fool； but I certainly lack the training of a detective； and I felt perfectly rudderless and helpless as I ordered the taxi…driver to take me to the Alcazar Hotel。
I was by no means sure that Harry had e to Denver。 He was traveling with a bundle of animated caprice； a creature who would have hauled him off the train at Rahway； New Jersey； if she had happened to take a fancy to the place。 At the moment； I reflected； they might be driving along Michigan Boulevard； or attending a matinee at the Willis Wood； or sipping mint juleps at the Planters'。
Even if they were in Denver； how was I to find them？ I keenly regretted the week I had lost。 I was sure that Harry would avoid any chance of publicity and would probably shun the big hotels。
And Denver is not a village。
It was the beauty of Le Mire that saved me。 Indeed； I might have foreseen that； and I have but poorly portrayed the force of her unmatchable fascination unless you have realized that she was a woman who could pass nowhere without being seen； and； seen； remembered。
I made inquiries of the manager of the hotel； of course； but was brought up sharply when he asked me the names of my friends for whom I was asking。 I got out of it somehow； some foolish evasion or other； and regarded my task as more difficult than ever。
That same evening I dined at the home of my cousin； Hovey Stafford； who had e West some years before on account of weak lungs； and stayed because he liked it。 I met his wife that evening for the first time； she may be introduced with the observation that if she was his reason for remaining in the provinces； never did man have a better one。
We were on the veranda with our after…dinner cigars。 I was congratulating Hovey on the felicity of his choice and jocularly sympathizing with his wife。
〃Yes；〃 said my cousin； with a sigh； 〃I never regretted it till last week。 It will never be the same again。〃
Mrs。 Hovey looked at him with supreme disdain。
〃I suppose you mean Senora Ramal；〃 said she scornfully。
Her husband； feigning the utmost woe； nodded mournfully； whereupon she began humming the air of the Chanson du Colonel； and was stopped by a smothering kiss。
〃And who is the Senora Ramal？〃 I asked。
〃The most beautiful woman in the world；〃 said Mrs。 Hovey。
This from a woman who was herself beautiful！ Amazing！ I suppose my face betrayed my thought。
〃It isn't charity；〃 she smiled。 〃Like John Holden； I have seen fire…balloons by the hundred； I have seen the moon； and…then I saw no more fire…balloons。〃
〃But who is she？〃
Hovey explained。 〃She is the wife of Senor Ramal。 They came here some ten days ago； with letters to one or two of the best families； and that's all we know about them。 The senora is an entrancing mixture of Cleopatra； Sappho； Helen of Troy； and the devil。 She had the town by the ears in twenty…four hours； and you wouldn't wonder at it if you saw her。〃
Already I felt that I knew； but I wanted to make sure。
〃Byron has described her；〃 I suggested； 〃in Childe Harold。〃
〃Hardly；〃 said Hovey。 〃No midnight beauty for hers； thank you。 Her hair is the most perfect gold。 Her eyes are green； her skin remarkably fair。 What she may be is unknowable； but she certainly is not Spanish； and； odder still； the senor himself fits the name no better。〃
But I thought it needless to ask for a description of Harry； for I had no doubt of the identity of Senor Ramal and his wife。
I pondered over the name； and suddenly realized that it was merely 〃Lamar〃 spelled backward！
The discovery removed the last remaining shadow of doubt。
I asked in a tone of assumed indifference for their hotel； expressing a desire to meet them…and was informed by Hovey that they had left Denver two days previously； nor did he know where they had gone。
Thus did I face another obstacle。 But I was on the track； and the perfume of a woman's beauty is the strongest scent in the world as well as the sweetest。 I thanked my cousin for a pleasant evening…though he did not know the extent of my debt to him…and declined his urgent invitation to have my luggage brought to his home。
On my way to the hotel I was struck by a sudden thought： Senor Ramal could not be my brother or my cousin would have recognized him！ But I immediately reflected that the two had not seen each other for some ten years； at which time Harry had been a mere boy。
The following morning； with little difficulty； I ascertained the fact that the Ramals had departed…at least ostensibly…for Colorado Springs。
I followed。 That same evening； when I registered at the Antlers Hotel； a few minu