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The night of his disappearance Dick had sauntered forth frooing to call on a young lady He offered no further details, and his friend asked for none, though he wondered a little what young woe his habits The old miner had known him from boyhood His partner had never found ibleto find tea-cup discussions about life interesting The call of adventure had absorbed his youth, and he had given his few aold What Richard Gordon cared for was the battle, the struggle against both honorable and unscrupulous foe-ht in the business world only because it was the test of strength Money meant power So he had made money

It was not until Dick failed to appear for breakfast next et uneasy He sent a bellboy to awaken Gordon, and presently the lad caet no answer to his knocks Instantly Steve pushed back his chair and walked out of the room to the desk in the lobby

"Got a skeleton key to Mr Gordon's room--317, I think it is?" he deuests go away and carry the keys----"

"Then I want it Afraid so with my friend He's always up early and on hand for breakfast He hasn't showed up this 's wrong"

"Oh, I reckon he'll turn up all right" The clerk turned to the key rack "Here's the key to Rooone for a walk"

Davis shook his head obstinately "Don't believe it I' up to see, anyhow"

Within five minutes he discovered that the bed in Roohly alarmed Gordon had no friends in the town likely to put hiht Nor was he the sort of rounder to dissipate his energies in all-night debauchery Dick had come to Santa Fé for a definite purpose The oldexperience that he would not be diverted from it for the sake of the futile foolish diversions known by some as pleasure Therefore the mind of Davis jumped at once to the conclusion of foul play

And if foul play, then the Valdés claiuilty parties He bla let Dick venture out alone, for having taken no precautions whatever to guard hiainst the Mexicans who had already once attempted his life