"My horse is outside. Where shall I put him?"
"In the shed. I'll show ye. Come on."
The old man went out, followed by the newcomer, and the door was left open slightly. Toots quietly slipped out after them.
Isa Isban came back into the room.
"I do not care to be seen here by everybody who may come along," she explained; "but this person is all right, for Drew knows him."
This was rather strange to all of the boys except Frank, but Merry instantly divined that she was afraid of Higgins and more than half expected the big sheriff would follow her there.
The secret signal and the air of mystery and apprehension shown by the girl and the old man convinced Merriwell that all was not right.
Isa had at one time "shoved the queer" for a band of men who made counterfeit money, and Bart Hodge had told Frank quite enough to convince Merriwell that she was still in the same dangerous and unlawful business.
The thoughts which ran riot in Merry's head were of a startling nature, but his face was calm and passive, betraying nothing of what was passing in his mind.
Once more Diamond set about making himself agreeable to Isa, and she met him more than halfway. She laughed and chatted with him, seeming to have forgotten that such a person as Frank Merriwell existed.
Browning sat down in a comfortable position where he could lean against the wall, and proceeded to fall asleep.
After a short time Toots came slipping into the cabin, his eyes rolling, and his whole manner betraying excitement and fear. He would have blurted out something, but Frank gave him a signal that caused him to be silent.
At the first opportunity the colored boy whispered in Merry's ear:
"Marser Frank, de bes' fing we can do is teh git out ob dis 'bout as soon as we kin do it, sar."
"What makes you think that?" asked Merriwell, cautiously.
"We am in a po'erful ba-ad scrape, sar."
"What do you mean?"
"It am mighty ba-ad folks dat libs heah, sar."
"Bad? In what way?"
"Dey hab done suffin' dat meks dem skeered ob de ossifers ob de law."
"How do you know?"
"I done hears de ol' man and de young man talkin'."
"What did they say?"
"Say dat ossifers am arter 'em. De young man say dat he have to run from Carson City to 'scape arrest, sar."
"He is the horseman I saw ahead of us in the valley," said Frank. "He must have seen us coming and concealed himself, expecting we would pass him. It is plain he did not wish to be seen."
"Suah's yeh bawn, boy! He has been doin' suffin' mighty ba-ad, an'
he's dangerous. He said he wouldn't be 'rested alive, sar."
"This is very interesting," nodded Frank. "It seems that we are in for one more exciting adventure before we finish the tour."
"I don' like it, sar--'deed I don'! No tellin' what such folks will do. He am feelin' po'erful ugly, fo' he say suffin' 'bout trubble wif his wife an' 'bout habbin' her follerin' him. Dat am how it happen he wur comin' from de wes' 'stead ob de eas'. He done dodge roun' teh git 'way from his wife, sar."
"He is a brave and gallant young man," smiled Merriwell. "I admire him very much--nit!"
"Now don' yeh go teh bein' brash wif dat chap, Marser Frank. Dar ain't no tellin' what he might do."
"Don't worry. Keep cool, and wait till I take a fancy to move. I want to look him over some more. He will be coming back with Drew in a moment, and---- Here they come now!"
Into the cabin came the old man, and the young man was at his heels.
There was a sullen, unpleasant look on the face of the latter, and he glared at the boys as if he considered them intruders.
Isa looked up and arose as they entered.
The light of the lamp fell fairly on her face, and the newcomer saw her plainly.
He uttered a shout of astonishment and staggered back, his eyes opened to their widest and his manner betraying the utmost consternation.
"Is it possible!" he grated.
Then he clutched the old man by the shoulder, snarling:
"Confound your treacherous old hide! You have betrayed me. You said the woman was Isa Isban, and she is----"
The girl interrupted him with a laugh.
"You seem excited," she said. "I am Isa Isban, and no one else."
He took a step toward her, his face working and his hands clinched.
"How did you get here ahead of me?" he hoarsely demanded.
"In the most natural manner possible," she answered. "A friend brought me, Mr. Kent."
"You know my real name--you know everything! I suppose you are here to secure evidence against me. You are looking for a divorce."
"A divorce?"
"Exactly."
"I do not understand you."
"You understand well enough. We have not been married so very long, and our married life hasn't been any too happy. You have accused me of abusing you--you have threatened to leave me."
The girl looked bewildered.