seeking his own in bewilderment.

"What is it?"

"Are you aware that both Albrecht and Lane have skipped out?"

"Why, no," her cheeks suddenly paling, her fingers clasping the edge of
the door. "Do you mean they have deserted us here to--to take care of
ourselves?"

He nodded. "Yes, that's about it. What I came to ask was, does that
fellow owe you any money?"

For an instant she hesitated, as if in lingering distrust of his exact
purpose, her lips parted, her face still plainly picturing the shock of
discovery.

"What difference can that possibly make now? Why do you require to
know?"

"Because I half believe you have been left penniless. Albrecht has not
even spoken about any pay to me since I joined the company; and when I
learned he had deliberately left us stalled here, my first thought was
of your unpleasant situation if my suspicions proved true."

"If they were, what is there you can do?"

"The hotel clerk says it is possible to reach the Junction on horseback
before any trains leave there on the main line. I propose to make him
disgorge, but I must know first exactly how things stand. Have you any