Page:Vance--The trey o hearts.djvu/281

Rh But of a sudden one of the women—she who wore the garments of her sex—paused, uttered a low cry athrill with terror, and clutching the arm of the man nearest her, pointed down to the card that stared up from the dust at her feet.

It was a Trey of Hearts. … "Oh, what can it mean?" Rose—for it was she—whispered brokenly, clinging to her lover's arm. "Surely you don't think. … Surely it must be accidental. … Surely it can't mean"

"I'm afraid it does," Alan Law responded gravely, eying the front of the Mountain House. "Our luck holds inconsistently—that's all. It wouldn't be us if we didn't pick out the one place where Marrophat and Jimmy chose to stop overnight. Fortunately, it's early; I doubt they're up. With half a show we ought to be able to find some way of putting a good distance between us and this town before they waken. … Tom!"

But Mr. Barcus was already at his elbow, in thorough sympathy of Alan's interpretation of the significance to be attached to the card that trembled in Rose's hand.

"Sharp's the word!" he agreed. "And there's a motor-car over there, in front of the blacksmith's. Probably we can hire her"

"Trine's car!" Alan ejaculated, recognizing the automobile at a glance. "Then he's here, as well!"