Groaning and crying, Gallup was washing the pepper from his eyes, which were fearfully inflamed and swollen. He could not see Havener, but heard his voice, and eagerly asked:
“Did ye ketch the dratted critter?”
“No; she got out before I reached the door.”
“Darn her!” grated Ephraim. “I say darn her! Never said ennything as bad as that about a female woman before, but I jest can’t help it this time! I won’t be able to see fer a week!”
“Oh, yes, you will,” assured Havener. “But I rather think your eyes will look bad for some time to come.”
“Here is something he had in his hand,” said one of the supers. “It’s her purse, I reckon; but there ain’t no money in it.”
Havener took it.
“Are you sure there wasn’t any money in it when you examined it?” he asked, sharply.
The super seemed to feel insulted, and he angrily protested that he would not have touched a cent if there had been five hundred dollars in it.
“But I notice you had curiosity enough to examine the contents of it,” came dryly from the stage manager. “I’ll just keep this. It may prove to be a valuable clew to the woman’s identity.”