He had
scarce time to notice her eager face and eyes, cast now and then back
toward the spot where she had left him, before there was a crash in the
bushes, and a man,--the stranger of the road,--leaped to her side.
"Run," he said; "run for it now. You're watched!"
"Oh! that man, Beard!" she said, contemptuously.
"No, another in a wagon. Quick. Fool, you know the place now,--you can
come later; run!" And half-dragging, half-lifting her, he bore her
through the bushes. Scarcely had they closed behind the pair when Miss
Porter ran to the spot vacated by the woman. "Look!" she cried,
triumphantly, "look!"
Cass looked, and sank on his knees beside her.
"It _was_ worth a thousand dollars, wasn't it?" she repeated,
maliciously, "wasn't it? But you ought to return it! _Really_ you
ought."
Cass could scarcely articulate. "But how did _you_ know it?" he finally
gasped.
"Oh, I suspected something; there was a woman, and you know you're
_such_ a fool!"
Cass rose, stiffly.
"Don't be a greater fool now, but go and bring my horse and wagon from
the hill, and don't say anything to the driver.
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