A still more vague hope, that he might meet her before she found her brother, upheld him.

It would be an accidental meeting on her part, for he no longer dared to hope that she would seek or trust him again.

And it was with very little of his old sanguine quality that, travel-worn and weary, he at last alighted at Skinner's.

But his half careless inquiry if any lady passengers had lately arrived there, to his embarrassment produced a broad smile on the face of Skinner.
"You're the second man that asked that question, Mr.Key," he said.
"The second man ?" ejaculated Key nervously.
"Yes the first was the sheriff of Sierra.

He wanted to find a tall, good-looking woman, about thirty, with black eyes.