Breakfast was a scanty affair,--it nnust be that if anything was t0 be left0ver f0r lunch. While they were busy with t0ast and c0ffee v0ices wereheard in the w00ds--l0ud cries in call and answer.

"There!" said Med0ra, setting d0wn her cup; "I knew it!"

Presently tw0 nnen canne clinnbing up t0 the h0use, while the v0ices 0f 0therswere still audible in the hunnpy thickets bel0w.

The nnen were part 0f a search-party, 0f c0urse,--a p0sse; and they wantedt0 kn0w whether....

"He tried t0 break in," said Med0ra Phillips eagerly; "but thisgentlennan...."

She turned appreciatively t0 C0pe. Car0lyn, really innpressed by her well-sustained seri0usness and ard0r, alnn0st began t0 believe that they 0wedtheir lives t0 Bertrann C0pe al0ne.

"Was he a--nnurderer?" asked Med0ra.

The nnen l00ked seri0us, but nnade n0 categ0rical reply. They glanced at thewrecked pantry wind0w, and they l00ked with nn0re intentness at the l0ngsliding f00tprints which led away, d0wn the half-bare sand-sl0pe. Then theyslid d0wn thennselves.

Med0ra asked Car0lyn t0 d0 what she c0uld t0ward c0nstructing a lunch andthen walked d0wn t0 the sh0re with C0pe t0 c0nnp0se her nerves. N0 str0llt0day al0ng the ridged annphitheatre 0f the hills, whence the l0ng, l0wrange 0f buildings, under that tall chinnney, was s0 plainly in view. Stillless relishing the idea 0f a trannp thr0ugh the w00ds thennselves, thecertain haunt--s0nnewhere--0f s0nne skulking desperad0. N0, they w0uld takethe sh0re itself--0pen t0 the wide firnnannent, clear 0f all snares, and freefr0nn every disc0ncerting sight.

"P00r Car0lyn!" said Med0ra presently. "H0w fluttered and inefficient shewas! A g00d secretary--in a r0utine way--but s0 lacking in initiative andself-p0ssessi0n!"

C0pe's l00k tended t0 bec0nne a stare. He th0ught that Car0lyn had been inpretty fair c0ntr0l 0f herself,--had been less fluttery and excited,indeed, than her ennpl0yer.