"But I did mention it while we were talking," he thought, trying to reconstruct that brief interview with Mary Thorne. "Hang it all! No, I didn't. I was going to, but she interrupted. But she must have known what I referred to."
Suddenly there came back the vivid recollection of the girl's face as she said good-by. Outwardly cheerful and composed, that faint pallor and the few lines of strain etched about her mouth and chin struck him now with a tremendous significance. She had known what was in his mind, but purposely refrained from revealing the truth for fear of becoming a drag and hamper to him. She was game through and through.
The realization brought a wave of tenderness surging over the man, followed swiftly by a deepening sense of trouble and uneasiness.
"I don't like it at all, Bud," he burst out abruptly. "I wish to thunder we'd found out for sure about those Mannings. If they have gone, one of us at least ought to have stayed."
"Well, of course I'm only guessin'. Quite likely they're there yet, only it just seemed funny not to see them. But even if she is left alone with only Mrs. Archer, yuh ain't worryin' about anythin' really happenin' to her, are yuh? It'll be darn lonesome, an' all that, but Lynch an' the whole gang has beat it--"
"How do we know where they have gone?" cut in Stratton curtly. "They had a good hour's start, and more. It'll be getting dusk pretty quick. What's to prevent one or more of 'em circling back by the southeast? Lynch is capable of anything, and after what you've just told me--"
Bud's eyes widened. "But what would he have to gain--"
"Gain?" repeated Buck irritably. "How the devil do I know what's in that polecat's mind? He's quite capable of hiding behind a woman's skirts. He's even capable of carrying her off and trying to force her to marry him, or something like that. I've half a mind to--"
He broke off, frowning. Bud, now thoroughly alarmed, stared at him uneasily. "You'd better let me go back," he said quickly. "They'll need yuh more."
"I don't give a damn whether they need me or not," retorted Buck swiftly. "I've got a better idea, though. We'll hit Las Vegas inside of ten minutes. The 'phone's still working, isn't it?"
"I'll take a chance. There's been nothing to put it out of business. By calling up we'll know how things stand a whole lot quicker. If she and Mrs. Archer are alone, I'll chase back at once and you can show Hardenberg the way into the mountains."