"For home?" a faint ray of light breaking from the word. "Where does the girl live? Do you know?"
"Sure; I 'm wise; she has a couple of dandy rooms over at the old fort, just across the creek; you know where that is, don't you?"
She nodded silently, her eyes brightening with resolution.
"It 's a blame tough bit of hiking to take alone on a dark night like this," he commented gravely. "You was n't plannin' to try any such trip as that, was you, Miss?"
"Oh, no; certainly not. I'm going upstairs to wait for daylight. But I thank you so much," and she cordially extended her hand. "You see, I—I could hardly go to the Gayety myself at such an hour."
The boy colored, still clasping the extended hand. Something in her low tone had served to recall to his mind those hasty words uttered in the office.
"Sure not, Miss Norvell; it's a bit tough, all right, for anybody like you down there at this time o' night."
She opened the door, the bright light from within shining about her slender figure, yet leaving her face still in shadow.
"Did—did you chance to notice if Mr. Farnham remained in the dance hall?"
"Biff Farnham?" in sudden, choking surprise. "Great guns, do you know him, too? No, he was n't there, but I can tell you where he is, all the same. He 's at the Palace Livery, saddling up, along with half a dozen other fellows. I saw 'em as I come trottin' along back, and wondered what the dickens was on tap at this time o' night."