Ham White knew that there was some purpose in the Overland girl’s remaining in the cabin for a few moments; perhaps he came nearer to knowing her purpose than Elfreda imagined.
The girl sat down under a tree and thought. The bag of gold in her blouse troubled her. Elfreda took it out and emptied the contents in her lap. Apparently a small fortune lay there, but, as she gathered up a handful of the contents of the bag, Elfreda Briggs made a terrible discovery.
CHAPTER IX
MYSTERIES MULTIPLY
“Miss Briggs, do you feel equal to starting back to Silver Creek?” questioned the guide as she returned. “The sooner we get away from here the better it may be for us.”
“Yes. Anything to get away from this haunt of tragedy. How far are we from there?”
“About thirty-five kilometers, I should say, though it may be more.”
Elfreda glanced at him quickly.
“Were you in service in France during the war?” she questioned.
“Yes.”
“May I ask in what capacity? You know the girls of this party were there with the Overton College unit.”