It was quite possible that her companion, by relays of horses and the advantage of bridle cut-offs, could have easily followed the Three Pine coach and joined her at Stockton.

But for what purpose?
The lady's trunk, which had not been disturbed during the first part of the journey, and had been forwarded at Stockton untouched before Key's eyes, could not have contained booty to be disposed of in this forgotten old town.
The register of the hotel bore simply the name of "Mrs.Barker," of Stockton, but no record of her companion, who seemed to have disappeared as mysteriously as he came.

That she occupied a sitting-room on the same floor as his own--in which she was apparently secluded during the rest of the day--was all he knew.

Nobody else seemed to know her.

Key felt an odd hesitation, that might have been the result of some vague fear of implicating her prematurely, in making any marked inquiry, or imperiling his secret by the bribed espionage of servants.