Mr. Robles took a seat close to Merle.
“I came to bring you two pieces of news,” he said, taking her hand, yet addressing his words to all the company. “First and foremost, by tomorrow the charge against Dick Willoughby will be withdrawn, and he will be a free man.”
“Oh, that is good news indeed,” cried Merle, fairly hugging its bearer.
“Then they have at last discovered the murderer of young Thurston?” enquired Munson in a tone of eager satisfaction.
“Yes, or rather he has discovered himself, I believe. Oh, you need not ask me for the name. It will only be made public when Willoughby formally claims his liberty.”
“I am so thankful,” murmured Grace. “But of course Dick’s complete exoneration was bound to come.”
“And I am the bearer of a special message to you, Mr. Munson. I have not read it. But it was given to me as the one most likely to get it promptly into your hands.”
Speaking thus, he passed over to Munson the hasty scrawl that Dick had written in the cavern and entrusted to Pierre Luzon for delivery.
Munson ripped open the envelope, first scanned the contents, then read aloud:
“On Tuesday night next, about six o’clock, meet me at Buck Ashley’s old store. I shall want you to ride over to Bakersfield with me next morning, where my acquittal is assured. Give Merle the glad news. Yours, Dick.”