One got here this mornin'." "What becomes of them ?" "They're called fer by another feller, sir." "Oh, they are! Who ?" "Red Slavin wus the name he give me of thet other buck." When the two had disappeared, Brant sat back thinking rapidly.

There was a mystery here, and such actions must have a cause.

Something either in or about Glencaid was compelling Murphy to keep out of sight--but what?
Who?
Brant was unable to get it out of his head that all this secrecy centred around Naida.

With those incautiously spoken words as a clew, he suspected that Murphy knew something about her, and that knowledge was the cause for his present erratic actions.

Perhaps Hampton knew; at least he might possess some additional scrap of information which would help to solve the problem.