"
"I didn't say he could," Phil defended himself, sulkily.
"Remember, I told you there was somebody back of him."
"Yes, I remember, but you didn't know exactly who."
"Well, I don't exactly know yet. I thought maybe you might tell
me."
There was a brief silence, during which Dave stood frowning. Then
he appeared to shake himself free from Phil's suggestions.
"It's too utterly preposterous. Mrs. Austin has no enemies; she's
a person of importance. If by any chance she disappeared--"
"She's done that very little thing," Strange declared.
"What?"
"She's disappeared--anyhow, she's gone. Yesterday, when I saw you
was laid up and couldn't help me, I 'phoned her ranch; somebody
answered in Spanish, and from what I could make out they don't
know where she is."
Dave wondered if he had understood Strange aright, or if this
could be another trick of his own disordered brain. Choosing his
words carefully, he said: "Do you mean to tell me that she's
missing and they haven't given an alarm? I reckon you didn't
understand the message, did you?"
Strange shrugged. "Maybe I didn't. Suppose you try. You sabe the
lingo."
Dave agreed, although reluctantly, for at this moment he wished
nothing less than to undertake a mental effort, and he feared, in
spite of Strange's statement, that he might hear Alaire's voice
over the wire.
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