There was something puzzling about the adventure.  To begin with, she could not see why the man had come to her room and what he expected to get.  A clever thief would have gone to Farnam’s office.  Then she thought he was not a coward; he had given way because he was cool enough to see that he was in her power and resistance would lead to his getting shot.  Yet he had seemed to shrink when he heard her voice.  She reflected with faint amusement that her voice was not harsh, and she had studied its control as part of her training when she began to teach.  The little tricks of tone and gesture one used to overawe young girls would not frighten a man.  For all that, when she first spoke there was a hint of fear in his furtive eyes.

Agatha let this go, and pondered her own feelings and the part she had played.  She had, of course, been frightened, but had preserved her judgment and seen that she could control the situation so long as she kept cool.  The man had not a pistol, and she could have fired three or four shots before he could seize her; but he might have tried to seize her had she not shown that she was ready to shoot.  It looked as if she had the nerve and confidence to face a crisis, which was satisfactory, since she would need these qualities when she traveled through the wilds.  She had, however, long trained herself for this object; in fact, as far as possible, she made her life a preparation for the adventurous journey.  Then she remembered her brother’s warning and wondered whether it was justified.  There was, perhaps, a danger of her dwelling too much upon the lode.  She must not let it possess her mind and make her deaf to other claims.  One ought to keep a proper balance.  In the meantime, she was tired, and feeling limp with the reaction from the strain.  She got up and shortly afterwards went to bed.

CHAPTER IX

AGATHA ASKS ADVICE

Agatha said nothing next morning about her adventure, although she heard that the lame man had left the packing shed when his companions were asleep and had not come back.  Next day Farnam returned and in the evening, when Mrs. Farnam was busy, she found an opportunity of talking to him alone.  He looked thoughtful when he heard her story.

“You did right not to tell Mabel; but I certainly can’t understand the thing,” he said.  “I reckon you have your imagination under pretty good control.”

“I didn’t imagine I saw the man,” Agatha rejoined with a smile.

Farnam nodded.  “We’ll take that for granted.  I wanted a teamster and hired the fellow when he asked for the job.  He worked well, but I don’t know where he came from or where he’s gone, and it would scare Mabel if we put the police on his trail.  Besides, I guess he lit out by the train in the morning that catches the west-bound express.”

“Since he knew you were away, why did he wait instead of coming as soon as you left?”