At last, they got away and went forward into the car where the company was gathered. Havener and Gallup had been holding the double seat, and Frank and Bart sat down there.
“Well, I fancy you failed to find the lady you were looking for,” said Havener. “But what’s the matter? You look as if something has happened.”
“Something has,” said Frank, grimly.
“Gol-darned ef I don’t b’lieve it!” exclaimed Ephraim. “Both yeou an’ Hodge show it. Tell us abaout it.”
Frank did so in a very few words, astonishing both Ephraim and the stage manager.
“Waal,” said the Vermonter, “the gal who tackled yeou in Denver warn’t no man.”
“Not much,” said Frank, “and it is remarkable that Hodge should have mistaken a man for such a woman as I described.”
“Didn’t,” said Bart.
“But you have acknowledged that you believed this was a man.”
“Yes, but this man was not the veiled woman I saw.”