interruption。 A pair of bright eyes had been watching them from
the bough of an adjacent tree。 It was a squirrel； who； having had
serious and prior intentions of making use of the cavity they had
discovered； had only withheld examination by an apparent courteous
discretion towards the intruding pair。 Now that they were gone he
slipped down the tree and ran towards the decayed stump。
CHAPTER III
Apparently dissatisfied with the result of an investigation； which
proved that the cavity was unfit as a treasure hoard for a discreet
squirrel； whatever its value as a receptacle for the love…tokens of
incautious humanity； the little animal at once set about to put
things in order。 He began by whisking out an immense quantity of
dead leaves； disturbed a family of tree…spiders； dissipated a drove
of patient aphides browsing in the bark； as well as their attendant
dairymen； the ants； and otherwise ruled it with the high hand of
dispossession and a contemptuous opinion of the previous
incumbents。 It must not be supposed； however； that his proceedings
were altogether free from contemporaneous criticism； a venerable
crow sitting on a branch above him displayed great interest in his
occupation； and； hopping down a few moments afterwards； disposed of
some worm…eaten nuts； a few larvae； and an insect or two； with
languid dignity and without prejudice。 Certain incumbrances；
however； still resisted the squirrel's general eviction； among them
a folded square of paper with sharply defined edges； that declined
investigation； and； owing to a nauseous smell of tobacco； escaped
nibbling as it had apparently escaped insect ravages。 This； owing
to its sharp angles； which persisted in catching in the soft
decaying wood in his whirlwind of house…cleaning； he allowed to
remain。 Having thus； in a general way； prepared for the coming
winter； the self…satisfied little rodent dismissed the subject from
his active mind。
His rage and indignation a few days later may be readily conceived；
when he found； on returning to his new…made home； another square of
paper； folded like the first； but much fresher and whiter； lying
within the cavity； on top of some moss which had evidently been
placed there for the purpose。 This he felt was really more than he
could bear； but it was smaller； and with a few energetic kicks and
whisks of his tail he managed to finally dislodge it through the
opening； where it fell ignominiously to the earth。 The eager eyes
of the ever…attendant crow； however； instantly detected it； he flew
to the ground； and； turning it over； examined it gravely。 It was
certainly not edible； but it was exceedingly rare； and； as an old
collector of curios； he felt he could not pass it by。 He lifted it
in his beak； and； with a desperate struggle against the
superincumbent weight； regained the branch with his prize。 Here；
by one of those delicious vagaries of animal nature； he apparently
at once discharged his mind of the whole affair； became utterly
oblivious of it； allowed it to drop without the least concern； and
eventually flew away with an abstracted air； as if he had been
another bird entirely。 The paper got into a manzanita bush； where
it remained suspended until the evening； when； being dislodged by a
passing wild…cat on its way to Mulrady's hen…roost； it gave that
delicately sensitive marauder such a turn that she fled into the
adjacent county。
But the troubles of the squirrel were not yet over。 On the
following day the young man who had accompanied the young woman
returned to the trunk； and the squirrel had barely time to make his
escape before the impatient visitor approached the opening of the
cavity； peered into it； and even passed his hand through its
recesses。 The delight visible upon his anxious and serious face at
the disappearance of the letter； and the apparent proof that it had
been called for； showed him to have been its original depositor；
and probably awakened a remorseful recollection in the dark bosom
of the omnipresent crow； who uttered a conscious…stricken croak
from the bough above him。 But the young man quickly disappeared
again； and the squirrel was once more left in undisputed
possession。
A week passed。 A weary； anxious interval to Don Caesar； who had
neither seen nor heard from Mamie since their last meeting。 Too
conscious of his own self…respect to call at the house after the
equivocal conduct of Mrs。 Mulrady； and too proud to haunt the lanes
and approaches in the hope of meeting her daughter； like an
ordinary lover； he hid his gloomy thoughts in the monastic shadows
of the courtyard at Los Gatos； or found relief in furious riding at
night and early morning on the highway。 Once or twice the up…stage
had been overtaken and passed by a rushing figure as shadowy as a
phantom horseman； with only the star…like point of a cigarette to
indicate its humanity。 It was in one of these fierce recreations
that he was obliged to stop in early morning at the blacksmith's
shop at Rough…and…Ready； to have a loosend horseshoe replaced； and
while waiting picked up a newspaper。 Don Caesar seldom read the
papers； but noticing that this was the 〃Record；〃 he glanced at its
columns。 A familiar name suddenly flashed out of the dark type
like a spark from the anvil。 With a brain and heart that seemed to
be beating in unison with the blacksmith's sledge； he read as
follows：
〃Our distinguished fellow…townsman； Alvin Mulrady； Esq。； left town
day before yesterday to attend an important meeting of directors of
the Red Dog Ditch Company； in San Francisco。 Society will regret
to hear that Mrs。 Mulrady and her beautiful and accomplished
daughter； who are expecting to depart for Europe at the end of the
month； anticipated the event nearly a fortnight； by taking this
opportunity of accompanying Mr。 Mulrady as far as San Francisco； on
their way to the East。 Mrs。 and Miss Mulrady intend to visit
London； Paris； and Berlin； and will be absent three years。 It is
possible that Mr。 Mulrady may join them later at one or other of
those capitals。 Considerable disappointment is felt that a more
extended leave…taking was not possible； and that； under the
circumstances； no opportunity was offered for a 'send off' suitable
to the condition of the parties and the esteem in which they are
held in Rough…and…Ready。〃
The paper dropped from his hands。 Gone！ and without a word！ No；
that was impossible！ There must be some mistake； she had written；
the letter had miscarried； she must have sent word to Los Gatos；
and the stupid messenger had blundered； she had probably appointed
another meeting； or expected him to follow to San Francisco。 〃The
day before yesterday！〃 It was the morning's papershe had been
gone scarcely two daysit was not too late yet to receive a
delayed message by post； by some forgetful handbyahthe tree！
Of course it was in the tree； and he had not been there for a week！
Why had he not thought of it before？ The fault was his； not hers。
Perhaps she had gone away； believing him faithless； or a country
boor。
〃In the name of the Devil； will you keep me here till eternity！〃
The blacksmith stared at him。 Don Caesar suddenly remembered that
he was speaking； as he was thinkingin Spanish。
〃Ten dollars； my friend； if you have done in five minutes！〃
The man laughed。 〃That's good enough American；〃 he said； beginning
to quicken his efforts。 Don Caesar again took up the paper。 There
was another paragraph that recalled his last interview with Mamie：
〃Mr。 Harry Slinn； Jr。； the editor of this paper； has just moved
into the pioneer house formerly occupied by Alvin Mulrady； Esq。；
which has already become historic in the annals of the county。 Mr。
Slinn brings with him his fatherH。 J。 Slinn； Esq。；and his two
sisters。 Mr。 Slinn； Sen。； who has been suffering for many years
from complete paralysis； we understand is slowly improving； and it
is by the advice of his physicians that he has chosen the
invigorating air of the foothills as a change to the debilitating
heat of Sacramento。〃
The affair had been quickly settled； certainly； reflected Don
Caesar； with a slight chill of jealousy； as he thought of Mamie's
interest in the young editor。 But the next moment he dismissed it
from his mind； all except a dull consciousness that； if she really
loved himDon Caesaras he loved her； she could not have assisted
in throwing into his society the young sisters of the editor； who
she expected might be so attractive。
Within the five minutes the horse was ready； and Don Caesar in the
saddle again。 In less than half an hour he was at the wayside
boulder。 Here he picketed his horse； and took the narrow foot…
trail through the hollow。 It did not take him long to reach their
old trysting…place。 With a beating heart he approached the
decaying trunk and looked into the cavity。 There was no letter
there！
A few blackened nuts and some of the dry moss he had put there were
lying on the ground at its roots。 He could not remember whether
they were there when he had last visited the spot。 He began to
grope in the cavity with both hands。 His fingers struck against
the sharp angles of a flat paper packet： a thrill of joy ran
through them and stopped his beating heart； he drew out the hidden
object； and was chilled with disappointment。
It was an ordinary…sized envelope of yellowish…brown paper；
bearing； besides the usual government stamp； the official legend of
an express company； and showing its age as much by this record of a
now obsolete carrying service as by the discoloration of time and
atmosphere。 Its weight； which was heavier than that of any
ordinary letter of the same size and thickness； was evidently due
to some loose enclosures； that slightly rustled and could be felt
by the fingers； like minute pieces of metal or grains of gravel。
It was within Don Caesar's experience that gold specimens were
often sent in that manner。 It was in a state of singular
preservation； except the address； which； being written in pencil；
was scarcely discernible； and even when deciphered appeared to be
incoherent and unfinished。 The unknown correspondent had written
〃dear Mary；〃 and then 〃Mrs。 Mary Slinn；〃