Page:Raymond Spears--Diamond Tolls.djvu/218

 suspect what danger he is in? I almost died, worrying about him. It was to save him that I hurried away from Yankee Bar. I thought—I hoped I would find him right away! I don't know where he is. No one could tell me there at Mendova. No one remembered him. We just must find him. I thought perhaps you knew"

"No—but I'm obliged to you for taking me away from that man. I was getting worried about him. He was growing uglier every day," Urleigh shook his head. "Anything I can do to help your friend, I'll be glad to!"

"Oh—he's not my friend, exactly," she exclaimed. "He's—he's just one of my—one of my dupes. That's what they call it, isn't it?"

"One of your dupes?" Urleigh saw only a smile on her face, and she made no reply. He took off his hat and gazed at the river.

"Some river, isn't it?" she suggested, a minute later.