Show its ret r tJ l Cc s r r SERVICE CHAPTER Continued IV-Continued IV Continued G 6 Ive rye got g got t the car Gratton was back offering to help her down And I phoned your mother mothers Was sh she She tr trusts you with me Gloria he Said said quickly She let him help belp her Into the car carbe carbe carbo be had hired Gratton would not tell her where they were going as- as assuring as assuring suring her gayly that their destina destina- destination destination destination tion wn was reserved ns as the tile final sur sur- surprise surprise prise for her bel Ho He evaded e laugh laughingly when she asked Maybe Mabe well wel keep right on going alwa always s 's and always he be jested with her She thought that under that Jest there was a queer note when his bis eyes flashed briefly toward her bel she tried to read their message But nut the hour mystery-filled mystery filled them with mystery GlorIa Gloria Gloria began laughing What What will we wo look like tomor tomor- tomorrow ro r row row-r row I mean when Its It's full day 1 l Me dressed like you thIs this you In evening suit I By ny Jove Joye I said Gratton Then tie ate laughed with her Its the lark of my life They were far up-country up when the sun rose Gloria Gloria was asleep and antl started wide awake when the car stopped suddenly They were In the theone theone theone one street street of ot a little town It must be eight o'clock Over Oyer their breakfast In the little wayside n restaurant It was Gratton who did all all of ot the talking Gloria by now v realized that she was down down- downright downright right right sorry that she had bind come The waiter she said as they Mashed Is staring his head off ocr atour at atour atour our clothes Were going to remedy that mat mat- matter matter matter ter Come on the stores are open I haven't a cent with me- me mC me Let me be your banker he saId lightly Gloria hesitated But nut very briefly The escapade e even en this going at atI eight o'clock lq iQ the morn morning In Into a I country store with a man and on money borrowed from the man was an experience re to to put the gay note of adventure back Into the affair Gloria nd her purchases In fit fit- fifteen fifteen teen minutes and the change from the theater Ii G wn Into an olive outing another u teen When Wien they left lei vere h ere strangely strangely- silent Al Elno 1 o'clock clork they the they were were re thread thread- thread streets of ot Sacramento At a aI little after ten they were In Auburn I On over a narrow v red dirt road closer down wn to the gorge across the thelong thelong thelong long bridge up and up the steep writhing grade They came to the top of the ridge raced through Cool through Lotus Lotus- Lotus i Coloma I 1 gasped Glo Gloria 13 You are going to Coloma l 1 I f wem Well he be said lightly It Is to Coloma that you have bave been coming every w week k I Well 1 he said a second time Then you you-you you you too too- too He Re glanced at nt the road toad cut down the speed still m more more re nn and l looke looked l back Into her thoughtful eyes Would you rather that It was Mark King or I who su succeeded 1 She was clearly perplexed Mark KIn King Is papas papa's partner she said musingly And I I I hope bope one day to bemore more than his partner 1 I She Sho understood but gave no sign ot of understanding lie He did not the poInt Here we are he said presently as the tho first of ot the picturesque old ol mortar and rock mortar houses of ot Coloma stood forth out of ot the wIlderness And youre you're dead tired and nearly dead for tor sleep I am sorry we cant can't have a city hotel botel up here but Ill I'll get you a room where you can lie down You can sleep and rest for tor two or three hours then well we'll start back lie He led the way to the little ho tel and she followed Since she coul could l not Insist on following him about his business It was per per- perhaps perhaps perhaps haps just as well It If she lay down And alone thought things out lie He placed a chair for her and arranged for tor her room He lie paid pail for tor It In ad- ad advance ad advance vance S saying that they would be leaving In a hurry he registered for her Then Gloria was shown down downa a long hall and to her room Here Gratton Gralton left her Impatient to be away She went to her window and ond stood looking out She saw Gratton come about the corner of ot the house and start across the str street t A man mana a very big man came to meet hIm They stood to together ether talking In the middle of at the tile road their voices low theIr looks earn earnest pst They went away together She shivered and went to her bed beel and sat down her hands tight clasped a look of at trou trouble ble In her eyes Gratton and Swen BrodIe together together- together I dont don't understand It She said It to herself herselt over oyer and over I 1 cant can't understand I 1 She sprang up and left the room going In n feverish fe haste baste back to the front part of ot the building She was groping blindly In a mental menial fog tog she waS tired very tired And uncertain uncertain tain Suddenly she felt utterly alone hopelessly helplessly alone She wanted her mother and with the Impulse wheeled back toward the clerk I want to use the long distance long she said Where telephone Is It 1 This way miss said the man eager to be of ot service Then with a bashful grin be he amended I beg pardon Mrs Gratton I mean I 1 Gloria stared at him tier Her mouth was open to correct him she saw how naturally his mistake was made But nut before she could speak a wild flutter In her heart stopped the words she went swiftly to the register In Gratton's own hand handset set opposite the clerks clerk's number seven seyen Indicating her room were the words Gratton Wife S P F She turned crimson and white Ill telephone later she said faIntly and went again to the door and this time out Into the autumn Where Is beT he she cut In excitedly excitedly edly Now you just come come out of ot the hotel lie He looked more puzzled than ever he be there How do I know Was Yas he taken there Ue lIe nodded Leastwise I heard beard he be was Last night night- night Gloria turned and ran back to the building she had hall quitted quilted only a moment ago bursting Into the front room demanding earnestly and In words that came with a n rush Is my father tather here Is s he hurt Your father Hurt Hurt- lurt Say you aint Ben Gaynor's daughter are you ou 1 Yes yes es Take me mo to papa Quick I 1 said Gl Gloria Imperiously You should have told me mo the min min- minute uto ute I came nut But I didn't know know- know Quick I 1 repeated Gloria Gloriano He De showed her to the room only three doors beyond her own lie moved to open the door but GlorIas GlorIa's the the hand was first to the knob she opened and went In closing the door softly She made out a 11 mans man's formon form formon formon on the bed there was a white ban ban- bandage bandage dage about his head lie He stirred and half halt turned over Papa Papal I 1 cried Gloria her ber voice olee catchIng Ue lIe looked at nt her In i wonderment Gloria misread the look In his eyes and for tor a terrible moment thought that he was dying Gloria 1 l ho he said Bald In amazement ner Here t i Oh papal I To Ben BeD Gaynor this unannounced comIng of ot hIs bis daughter partook ot of the nature of ot an nn apparition and ot of ofa a miracle But the hands bands gripping his were blood and hands By the Lord well we'll nail theIr hides on our barn door yet l I were hIs first words of ot greeting What In the world happened 1 Gloria asked after a sigh of ot relief How lIow you yon happened to be here gets me said Gaynor Its like magic You didn't hear bear down in San Francisco that I was hurt burt dId you No I-I I I I just happened to be here You see papa papa- papa come later Inter he broke In Youre here that's all that counts Youre You're going to do something for forme forme torme me Anything thought Gloria And she was glad that be he did not seek just now the explanation of ot her presence here of ot course she would tell him later everythIng everything later But she was still Mrs confused confused Mrs GrattonI Gratton I IDIll I DIll Did she down In the depths of ot her bier frIvolous heart girl heart want to be that You Yon are arc not Dot dangerously hurt papa Bless you DO nol aol I Not now that youre you're here Dont Don't you worry about me Ill I'll be on my feet teet In a week Now listen Ive I've got to talk fast before somebody comes In You know the trail through h the moun moun- mountaIns mountains mountains to our place you rode It t twice with King Yes I want YOU ou to ride It t again to- to today to today day You can cnn get a horse at the stable Dont Don't let anyone know v where you are going I want you to take a message to King And Its It's got to get to him and Into nobody's hands but his Understand that that Gloria 1 Gloria saw a terrible earnestness SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS In ID the tho California sierra Mark King prospector tor sees leu Andy And Parker ParkeT killed by Swen SweD Brodie Parker outlaw companion both mown known to King Kine who is ison on his hi way to the tho home of an old friend J Ben Bm Gaynor Their friendship trained strained by Gaynor Caynor's marriage King Kine has not tort met Mrs Mra Mr Gaynor Caynor nor Gloria Gaynor eighteen eighteen- year old year old daughter King Kin and Caynor Gaynor share awe with Brodie Brodle and aDd hi br hie crowd knowle knowledge of ofa a vast store toro of or gold cold hidden D In the sierra ailTa ai A prospector Loon Loony Honeycutt is believed to know mow the hiding place King Kine meets Mrs Mra Gaynor Caynor and end b ls Impressed by Gloria CIorlo youthful beauty Among AmonI Gaynor guests cuesta Ls Is Cratton Grattan San Francisco Fr capitalist apparently a favored suitor for tor Gloriaa Glorias hand With Gloria King ride rides to Coloma Intending to sound found Honeycutt He lie finds find Brodle Brodie with the old prospector and animosity flares aru Brodie Brodle threatening King Their rido rids to Coloma and their companionship for a s day draw drew King Kloc closer doser to Gloria Gloria and her mother return to San Francisco In ID a spirit pint of adventure tho the girl eirl accompanies Gratton on OD a business trip sunshine All of at the high adventure was dead ashes the lark was lost lostin lostin lostIn in a sinister enterprise Gratton's wife Mrs wife Mrs Gratton- Gratton Gratton He lIe had done that I She walked on blindly tears gathered tears lears of mortification of blazing anger But they did not fall she dabbed vi- vi viciously at her eyes Why ur bad hall he be bedone done that Why Howdy miss a voice was say say- saying saying saying ing It bro brought her back to to earth from froma fr froma m ma a reglo region of swirling vapors back to today and Coloma She stopped and looked at the man startled lIe Ile was a stranger yet dimly familIar familiar I 1 wanted to ask k he said solid solid- how your our father was this morning My father she repeated dully Oh hes he's quite well thank you Plainly her words puzzled him him him- Youre the young lady that stopped In my store one day last spring with Mark King June It was wasn't It 1 Yes Yes she admitted She would never have e remembered him But nut he who had not seen others like her remembered Then hen youre you're Ben nen Gaynor's girl girlAnd And you say hes he's well Quite well veil I believe bellee she said Fald coolly But wasn't he be bad hurt last night Papa hurt How Dow hurU hurt she cried sharply When Where Tell me why dont don't you tell tel me He lIe looked at ot her In wonder All I know Is just what I heard I heard he be got hurt at old Loony Honeycutt's last night Right bad hurt burt they said But nut I was just ask ask- Ing ak log Ing you you- you you- you In her fathers father's eyes She squeezed hIs hands and replied Of course papa Ill I'll do whatever you ou want God bless you IOU for tor that he mute mut mut- mut muttered muttered This Is I sober ober serious busi busl business business ness ness Gloria you are the only one here I could trust King will be at atthe atthe th the house a at t least I hope he will willAnd And Gloria I want you to promIse by all that's good and holy that you wont won't-I wont won't let t a ri word ord or sign or a hInt slip to anybody else Not a soul on on earth Will you Gloria Yes She had hall never neer known her father to be so tensely In earnest Then he said go o turn the key In the lock And hurry Before anyone comes She locked the door and returned to him Feel under my pillow Got It She found a small parcel and anddrew anddrew drew It out It was a n flattish affair and rectangular the size and shape ot of an nn octavo o volume volume-n volume n flat box It if not a book It was draped In n a bit bitof bitof of at soiled cloth Quick he lie commanded nervous nervous- nervously nervously nervously ly Out of ot sight with It Stick it Into your blouse If It you can cnn Catching something of at his sup suppressed pressed excitement she obeyed I managed a little note to Mark i he said when she had bad buttoned the loose shirt again and he sunk back white and exhausted among his pil- pil pillows pil pillows lows I stuck It Inside the cloth Lord It if I was only on my feet I nut But youl you'll do It for me my girl With never a hint to anyone I promise papa she said as- as as Unlock the door again then There Theres There's somebody c coming Sit d down over oyer there mere there across in room ADU leave lea as DS soon as ns yon yoe can ran Gloria sat In her across the room looking Innocently the part ot of ota ofa ofa a daughter In a n sick room when the thedoor thedoor door opened and the Placerville doc doe doctor doctor tor came In A moment later she slipped out Down the road she saw Gratton He came quickly to meet her She saw that he was eyeing her keenly and her thought was that he was wondering If It by chance she slie had seen the hotel register I dont don't know just what to do sold Gratton My My business Is going to hold me here longer than I hall had thought I-I I I I promised to go back backwith backwith backwith with you this afternoon Would It be all right If I got a man to drive you ou back I arn nm terribly sorry Gloria but but- but Business Is business l I She laughed a n trifle nervously Then her I Inspiration ration I know knowl I I can cnn go goto goto goto to our mountain home Ill I'll phone mamma and she will como come up upWell Well Wel spend a few days and and- and For an Instant his eyes eres faIrly blazed they were bright with Hh tri trl tri tri- triumph triumph Just the thing tiling I Ill I'll go for tor the horses Ill I'll ride over oyer with you and get right back here nil But But t- t But already excusing himself hurriedly Gratton was off oIT for the horses It was Us mid afternoon when wilen Gloria bouse houseIn and Gratton Gralton came to the log In the woods Jim Spalding coming to take their horses away to the stable was plainly curious Gloria We rode on ahead Jim told him and Jim detected no false I note In her gaiety Mamma JS is comIng Spalding gaTe gave them a key bey and they went to the house bouse It was Glo Glo- Gloria sin ria who unlocked the tho door Gratton his white while face looking more than I ever bloodless saw her han hand trem tremble ble She hurried In excused her herself self and ran upstairs She knew that the time had come when she would have bave to listen to what Grat Grot Gratton ton was going to say she knew what the burden of ot his plea would she be-she she knew everything she thought wildly except what her an- an answer an answer would be On this floor was an extensIon telephone Installed for the conven conven- cony convenience en fence lence of ot Gloria and her mother Gloria Glo Glo- Gloria Gloria ria went tiptoeing to It rather than go down where Gratton was She rang the necessary bell for tor the op- op operator operator op |