and that discovery must not be made by him until Key's plans were
perfected. A sudden aversion to the man he had a moment before
wished to reward began to take possession of him. "Come on," he
added almost roughly.

But to his surprise, Collinson yielded with his usual grim
patience, and even a slight look of sympathy with his friend's
annoyance. "I reckon you're right, and mebbee you're in a hurry to
get to Skinner's all along o' MY business, I oughtn't hev told you
boys what I did." As they rode rapidly away he took occasion to
add, when Key had reined in slightly, with a feeling of relief at
being out of the hollow, "I was thinkin', too, of what you'd asked
about any one livin' here unbeknownst to me."

"Well," said Key, with a new nervousness.

"Well; I only had an idea o' proposin' that you and me just took a
look around that holler whar you thought you saw suthin'!" said
Collinson tentatively.

"Nonsense," said Key hurriedly. "We really saw nothing--it was all
a fancy; and Uncle Dick was joking me because I said I thought I
saw a woman's face," he added with a forced laugh.

Collinson glanced at him, half sadly. "Oh! You were only funnin',
then. I oughter guessed that. I oughter have knowed it from Uncle
Dick's talk!" They rode for some moments in silence; Key
preoccupied and feverish, and eager only to reach Skinner's.
Skinner was not only postmaster but "registrar" of the district,
and the new discoverer did not feel entirely safe until he had put