"I'm sure it was the girl. She wore men's clothes and she went into the woods on a run."
As they started to ride away, Lannis said to Clinch, who stood on the veranda:
"It's still the blue-jay and the squirrel talk between us, Mike, but the show-down is sure to come. Better go straight while the going's good."
"I go straight enough to suit me," said Clinch.
"But it's the Government that is to be suited, Mike. And if it gets you right you'll be in dutch."
"Don't let that worry you," said Clinch.
* * * * *
About three o'clock the two State Troopers, riding at a walk, came to the forks of the Ghost Lake road.
"Now," said Lannis to Stormont, "if you really believe you saw the girl beat it out of the back door and take to the woods, she's probably somewhere in there——" he pointed into the western forest. "But" he added, "what's your idea in following her?"
"She wore men's clothes; she was in a hurry and trying to keep out of sight. I wondered whether Clinch might have sent her to warn this hold-up fellow."