"What! Gad, old man, it's good to hear your voice!" Winnie exclaimed. "When did you get in?"
"Just last night. I tried to get hold of you, but your father told me you were up there at Stoney Crest——"
"Come on out! Jim would have asked you if he'd known where you were. I'll tell him——"
"No," Thode interrupted tersely. "Sorry, but I can't waste a day! I've got to see you at once, this morning if possible."
"All right," Winnie responded. "Tell you what I'll do; I'll grab Jim's speedster and meet you at the Bumble Bee Inn. I can make it in an hour and so can you, as it's about half way out. Nobody'll be around in the morning and it's deserted anyway this time of the year, so we can have it to ourselves. I say, what's the racket, Kearn?"
"Tell you when I see you. Don't fail me, Win. Good-bye."
When Winnie drove up to the road-house an hour later, a lone taxi' stood outside and a familiar figure was seated at one of the tables in the otherwise empty restaurant. As it rose he saw that the two months had brought Kearn Thode back to what he had been before the fever laid him low in Mexico. He glowed with the old health and strength, and in his eyes was the triumphant fire of achievement.
"Hello, old man! You're looking wonderfully fit again, thank the Lord! Did you find that important something or other that was worth more than the pot of gold?"
Thode smiled as they shook hands.
"I found what I went after," he replied quietly. "And you? I hear you're settling into the harness in great shape."