Peter straightened, his eyes searching the lumberman's face.
"Yes. To-day—this morning," he answered crisply. "What of it? Do you know anything——?"
"Hawk Kennedy took her?" the man faltered. "Are you sure?"
Peter sprang up, his eyes blazing with eagerness.
"What do you know of Hawk Kennedy?" he cried. And then, as Shad seemed suddenly to have been stricken dumb, Peter seized him by the shoulder and shook him. "Speak! Do you know Hawk Kennedy?"
"Yes," said Shad in a bewildered way. "I do—but Beth——"
"He's taken her away—don't you understand?"
"W-Why?"
"God knows," said Peter wildly. "It's part of a plot—against McGuire—to get money. Do you know where he is? Do you know where he's gone with her? Speak, man! Or must I——?"
"I know him. I've seen him——," muttered Shad with a hang-dog air.