s only a short run up there, and she left just after breakfast. She should have been back long ago. She promised to have dinner with me, and we were going to see the picture at the theater tonight. It’s one she’s particularly interested in.”
Eden was moving toward the road. “Come along—in heaven’s name—hurry—”
Chan stepped forward. Something gleamed in his hand. “My automatic,” he explained. “I rescued it from suitcase this morning. Take it with you—”
“I won’t need that,” said Eden. “Keep it. You may have use for it—”
“I humbly beg of you—”
“Thanks, Charlie. I don’t want it. All right, Holley—”
“The pearls,” suggested Chan.
“Oh, I’ll be back by eight. This is more important—”
As he climbed into the flivver by Holley’s side, Eden saw the front door of the ranch house open, and the huge figure of Madden framed in the doorway.
“Hey!” cried the millionaire.
“Hey yourself,” muttered Eden. The editor was backing his car, and with amazing speed he swung it round. They were off down the road, the throttle wide open.
“What could have happened?” Eden asked.
“I don’t know. It’s a dangerous place, that old mine. Shafts sunk all over—the mouths of some of them hidden by underbrush. Shafts several hundred feet deep—”
“Faster,” pleaded Eden.
“Going the limit now,” Holley replied. “Madden seemed interested in your departure, didn’t he? I take it you haven’t given him the pearls.”
“No. Something new
