"Yes. But I may be wrong. At any rate, he has left us now."
"Left you, you say; and when?"
"Late yesterday afternoon. But it is only for a short time. I heard him tell father that he would return next week."
"Do you know where he went?"
"To Fort Leavenworth."
"Good! I will manage to have an interview with the gentleman; I must stop there myself."
"You stop there? Why Clay—!" exclaimed the maiden, in a startled tone.
"Yes; that is what I came to tell you. I must go to St. Louis upon business for a week or so. Indeed, I should have been upon the road before now, but I wished to see you first so that you would not be alarmed at my disappearance," returned Poynter, kindly.
The reply she was about to make was abruptly checked by the sound of approaching footsteps, and then the loud, clear call of:
"Nora, Nora child, where are you?"