The night they left San Francisco they had written an earnest letter to their father, telling him that on learning the truth about the reverses of Devil's Ford, they thought it their duty to return and share them with others, without obliging him to prefer the request, and with as little worry to him as possible.

He would find them ready to share his trials, and in what must be the scene of their work hereafter.
"It will bring father back," said Christie; "he won't leave us here alone; and then together we must come to some understanding with him--with THEM--for somehow I feel as if this house belonged to us no longer." Her surmise was not far wrong.

When Mr.Carr arrived hurriedly from Sacramento the next evening, he found the house deserted.

His daughters were gone; there were indications that they had arrived, and, for some reason, suddenly departed.

The vague fear that had haunted his guilty soul after receiving their letter, and during his breathless journey, now seemed to be realized.