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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14361-0.txt b/14361-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ee6fd2 --- /dev/null +++ b/14361-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10572 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14361 *** + +CARMEN'S MESSENGER + +by + +HAROLD BINDLOSS + +Author of _Johnstone of the Border_, _Prescott of Saskatchewan_, etc. + +With Frontispiece in Colors + +Grosset & Dunlap Publishers +New York + +1917 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. FEATHERSTONE CHANGES HIS PLANS + II. THE MILL-OWNER + III. FOSTER MAKES A PROMISE + IV. THE FIRST ADVENTURE + V. FEATHERSTONE'S PEOPLE + VI. HIS COMRADE'S STORY + VII. THE PACKET + VIII. AN OFFER OF HELP + IX. THE FALSE TRAIL + X. THE DROVE ROAD + XI. THE POACHERS + XII. A COMPLICATION + XIII. FOSTER RETURNS TO THE GARTH + XIV. FOSTER SEES A LIGHT + XV. THE GLOVE + XVI. A DIFFICULT PART + XVII. THE LETTERS + XVIII. SPADEADAM WASTE + XIX. ALICE'S CONFIDENCE + XX. THE RIGHT TRACK + XXI. DALY TAKES ALARM + XXII. CARMEN GETS A SHOCK + XXIII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + XXIV. LAWRENCE'S STORY + XXV. FOSTER SETS OFF AGAIN + XXVI. THE REAL-ESTATE AGENT + XXVII. THE MINE + XXVIII. THE LOG BRIDGE + XXIX. FOSTER ARRIVES + XXX. RUN DOWN + XXXI. DALY SOLVES THE PUZZLE + XXXII. FEATHERSTONE APOLOGIZES + + + + + +I + +FEATHERSTONE CHANGES HIS PLANS + +It was getting dark, and a keen wind blew across the ragged pines +beside the track, when Jake Foster walked up and down the station at +Gardner's Crossing in North Ontario. Winter was moving southwards fast +across the wilderness that rolled back to Hudson's Bay, silencing the +brawling rivers and calming the stormy lakes, but the frost had +scarcely touched the sheltered valley yet and the roar of a rapid +throbbed among the trees. The sky had the crystal clearness that is +often seen in northern Canada, but a long trail of smoke stretched +above the town, and the fumes of soft coal mingled with the aromatic +smell of the pines. Gardner's Crossing stood, an outpost of advancing +industry, on the edge of the lonely woods. + +The blue reflections of big arc-lamps quivered between the foam-flakes +on the river, a line of bright spots, stretching back along the bank, +marked new avenues of wooden houses, and, across the bridge, the tops +of tall buildings cut against the glow that shimmered about the town. +At one end rose the great block of the Hulton factory, which lost +something of its utilitarian ugliness at night. Its harsh, rectangular +outline faded into the background of forest, and the rows of glimmering +windows gave it a curious transparent look. It seemed to overflow with +radiance and filled the air with rumbling sound. + +In a large measure, Gardner's Crossing owed its rapid development to +the enterprise of the Hulton Manufacturing Company. Hulton was ready +to make anything out of lumber for which his salesmen found a demand; +but his firm grip on the flourishing business had recently relaxed, and +people wondered anxiously what would happen if he did not recover from +the blow that had struck him down. Fred Hulton, his only son, and +assistant treasurer to the Company, had been found in the factory one +morning with a bullet-hole in his head, and it was believed that he had +shot himself. His father gave his evidence at the inquiry with stern +self-control, but took to his bed afterwards and had not left it yet. +So far as the townsfolk knew, this was the first time he had shown any +weakness of body or mind. + +The train was late, but Foster enjoyed the pipe he lighted. It was ten +years since he landed at Montreal, a raw lad without friends or money, +and learned what hard work was in a lumber camp. Since then he had +prospered, and the strenuous life he led for the first few years had +not left much mark on him. Now he thought he had earned a holiday, and +all arrangements for his visit to England were made. Featherstone, his +partner, was going with him. Their sawmill, which was run by +water-power, had closed for the winter, when building material was not +wanted, and the development of a mineral claim they owned would be +stopped by the frost. They had planned to put in a steam engine at the +mill, but the Hulton Company had delayed a contract that would have +kept the saws running until the river thawed. + +Foster, however, did not regret this. Except on Sundays, he had seldom +had an hour's leisure for the last few years. Gardner's Crossing, +which was raw and new, had few amusements to offer its inhabitants; he +was young, and now he could relax his efforts, felt that he was getting +stale with monotonous toil. But he was a little anxious about +Featherstone, who had gone to see a doctor in Toronto. + +A whistle rang through the roar of the rapid and a fan-shaped beam of +light swung round a bend in the track. Then the locomotive bell began +to toll, and Foster walked past the cars as they rolled into the +station. He found Featherstone putting on a fur coat at a vestibule +door, and gave him a keen glance as he came down the steps. He thought +his comrade looked graver than usual. + +"Well," he said, "how did you get on?" + +"I'll tell you later. Let's get home, but stop at Cameron's drug store +for a minute." + +Foster took his bag and put it in a small American car. He drove +slowly across the bridge and up the main street of the town, because +there was some traffic and light wagons stood in front of the stores. +Then as he turned in towards the sidewalk, ready to pull up, he saw a +man stop and fix his eyes on the car. The fellow did not live at the +Crossing, but visited it now and then, and Foster had met him once when +he called at the sawmill. + +"Drive on," said Featherstone, touching his arm. + +Although he was somewhat surprised, Foster did as he was told, and when +they had passed a few blocks Featherstone resumed: "I can send down the +prescription to-morrow. That was Daly on the sidewalk and I didn't +want to meet him." + +A minute later Foster stopped to avoid a horse that was kicking and +plunging outside a livery stable while a crowd encouraged its driver +with ironical shouts. Looking round, he thought he saw Daly following +them, but a man ran to the horse's head and Foster seized the +opportunity of getting past. + +"What did the doctor tell you?" he asked. + +"He was rather disappointing," Featherstone replied, and turned up the +deep collar of his coat. + +Foster, who saw that his comrade did not want to talk, imagined that he +had got something of a shock. When they left the town, however, the +jolting of the car made questions difficult and he was forced to mind +his steering while the glare of the headlamps flickered across deep +holes and ruts. Few of the dirt roads leading to the new Canadian +cities are good, but the one they followed, though roughly graded, was +worse than usual and broke down into a wagon trail when it ran into +thick bush. For a time, the car lurched and labored like a ship at sea +up and down hillocks and through soft patches, and Foster durst not +lift his eyes until a cluster of lights twinkled among the trees. Then +with a sigh of relief he ran into the yard of a silent sawmill and they +were at home. + +Supper was waiting, and although Foster opened a letter he found upon +the table, neither of the men said anything of importance during the +meal. When it was over, Featherstone sat down in a big chair by the +stove, for the nights were getting cold. He was about thirty years of +age, strongly built, and dressed in city clothes, but his face was +pinched. For part of the summer, he and Foster had camped upon their +new mineral claim in the bush and worked hard to prove the vein. June, +as often happens in Canada, was a wet month, and although Featherstone +was used to hardship, he sickened with influenza, perhaps in +consequence of digging in heavy rain and sleeping in wet clothes. As +he was nothing of a valetudinarian he made light of the attack, but did +not get better as soon as he expected on his return, and went to see +the Toronto doctor, when Foster urged him. + +The latter lighted his pipe and looked about the room. It was warm and +well lighted, and the furniture, which was plain but good, had been +bought, piece by piece, to replace ruder articles they had made at the +mill. One or two handsome skins lay upon the uncovered floor, and the +walls were made of varnished cedar boards. A gun-rack occupied a +corner, and the books on a shelf indicated that their owners had some +literary taste, though there were works on mining and forestry. Above +the shelf, the huge head of a moose, shot on a prospecting Journey to +the North, hung between the smaller heads of bear and caribou. + +Foster, who had hitherto lived in tents and shacks, remembered his +misgivings when they built the house. Indeed, he had grumbled that it +might prove a dangerous locking up of capital that was needed for the +enlargement of the mill. Featherstone, however, insisted, and since +most of the money was his, Foster gave in; but they had prospered since +then. They were good friends, and had learned to allow for each +other's point of view during several years of strenuous toil and stern +economy. Still, Foster admitted that their success was not altogether +due to their own efforts, because once or twice, when they had to face +a financial crisis, the situation was saved by a check Featherstone got +from home. By and by the latter turned to his comrade. + +"Your letter was from Hulton, wasn't it? What does he want?" + +"He doesn't state, but asks us to call at the factory to-morrow +evening. That's all, but I heard in town that the doctor and nurse had +left; Cameron told me Hulton fired them both because they objected to +his getting up." + +"It's possible," Featherstone agreed. "Hulton's not the man to bother +about his health or etiquette when he wants to do a thing. Anyhow, as +he has been a pretty good friend of ours, we will have to go, but I +wouldn't have imagined he'd have been ready to talk about the tragedy +just yet." + +"You think that is what he wants to talk about?" + +Featherstone nodded. "We knew Fred Hulton better than anybody at the +Crossing, and at the inquiry I tried to indicate that his death was due +to an accident. I imagined that Hulton was grateful. It's true that I +don't see how the accident could have happened, but I don't believe +Fred shot himself. Though it was an open verdict, you and I and Hulton +are perhaps the only people who take this view." + +"We'll let it drop until to-morrow. What did you learn at Toronto?" + +"Perhaps the most important thing was that I'll have to give up my trip +to the Old Country." + +"Ah," said Foster, who waited, trying to hide his disappointment and +alarm, for he saw that his suspicions about his partner's health had +been correct. + +"The doctor didn't think it wise; said something about England's being +too damp, and objected to a winter voyage," Featherstone resumed. "It +looks as if you were better at calculating the profit on a lumber deal +than diagnosing illness, because while you doctored me for influenza, +it was pneumonia I had. However, I admit that you did your best and +you needn't feel anxious. It seems I'm not much the worse, though I'll +have to be careful for the next few months, which I'm to spend on the +Pacific slope, California for choice. It's a bit of a knock, but can't +be helped." + +Foster declared his sympathy, but Featherstone stopped him. "There's +another matter; that fellow Daly's here again. I expect you guessed +what he came for the last time?" + +"I did. The bank-book showed you drew a rather large sum." + +"No doubt you thought it significant that the check was payable to +myself?" + +Foster was silent for a moment or two. He trusted his comrade, but +suspected that there was something in his past history that he meant to +hide. For one thing, Featherstone never spoke about his life in the +Old Country, and Foster was surprised when he stated his intention of +spending a few months there. It looked as if Daly knew his secret and +had used his knowledge to blackmail him. + +"I'll go to California with you," he said. "One place is as good as +another for a holiday, and I'm really not keen on going home. I've no +near relations and have lost touch with my friends." + +"No," said Featherstone, with a grateful look. "I want you to go to +England and stay with my people. I haven't said much about them, but +you'll find they will do their best to make things pleasant. Anyhow, +it's time you knew that I left home in serious trouble and meant to +stop away until I thought the cause of it forgotten. Well, not long +ago, I heard that the man I'd injured was dead, but had sent me word +that as I had, no doubt, paid for my fault in this country, I'd nothing +more to fear. Then Daly got upon my track." + +Foster nodded sympathetically. "How much does he know?" + +"Enough to be dangerous, but I don't know how he learned it and don't +mean to keep on buying him off. Now I want you to go home and tell my +people what we're doing; if you can give them the impression that I've, +so to speak, made good in Canada, so much the better. This is not +entirely for my sake, but because it might be a relief to them. You +see, they've had to suffer something on my account and felt my +disgrace, but, although I deserved it, they wouldn't give me up." + +"Very well," said Foster, "I'll do as you wish." + +He knocked out and re-filled his pipe, as an excuse for saying nothing +more, because he was somewhat moved. He guessed that Featherstone had +not found it easy to take him into his confidence, and felt that he had +atoned for his errors in the past. Still, there was a point he was +doubtful about. His comrade had a well-bred air, and Foster imagined +that his people were rich and fastidious. + +"I'm not sure your relatives will enjoy my visit," he resumed after a +time. "My father and mother died when I was young, and I was sent to a +second-rate school and kept there by an uncle who wanted to get rid of +me. Then I'd a year or two in a merchant's office and cheap lodgings, +and when I'd had enough of both came out to Canada with about five +pounds. You know how I've lived here." + +Featherstone gave him an amused glance. "You needn't let that trouble +you. It's curious, but the bush seems to bring out the best that's in +a man. I can't see why getting wet and half frozen, working fourteen +hours a day, and often going without your dinner, should have a +refining influence, but it has. Besides, I'm inclined to think you +have learned more in the Northwest than they could have taught you at +an English university. Anyhow, you'll find my people aren't hard to +please." + +"When are you going to California?" Foster, who felt half embarrassed, +asked. + +"Let's fix Thursday next, and I'll start with you." + +"But I'm going east, and your way's by Vancouver." + +"Just so," said Featherstone dryly. "For all that, I think I'll start +east, and then get on to a west-bound train at a station down the line. +The folks at the Crossing know I'm going home, and I don't want to put +Daly on my track." He smoked in silence for a few moments, and then +added: "I wonder whether Austin helped the fellow to get after me?" + +Foster looked up with surprise, but admitted that his partner might be +right. Austin was a real-estate agent who now and then speculated in +lumber and mineral claims. He had some influence at the Crossing +where, however, he was more feared than liked, since he lent money and +bought up mortgages. On three or four occasions he had been a business +rival of Foster and Featherstone's, and the former thought he might not +have forgiven them for beating him. + +"It's possible," he said thoughtfully. "But you don't imagine Daly +told him what he knows about you?" + +"I should think it most unlikely," Featherstone rejoined. "Daly means +to keep all he can get for himself, but if he gave Austin a hint that +he could injure me, the fellow might be willing to help. He's pretty +often up against us; but we'll let that go. You're a friend of Carmen +Austin's, and as you'll meet her at the reunion, it might be better if +you didn't tell her I have changed my plans. Of course, I don't mean +to hint that she has anything to do with her father's schemes." + +Foster laughed. He liked Carmen Austin and was mildly flattered by the +favor she showed him, but thought he knew her well enough not to attach +much importance to this. Carmen was clever and ambitious, and would, +no doubt, choose a husband who had wealth and influence. Though very +young, she was the acknowledged leader of society at the Crossing. + +"You needn't be afraid of hurting my feelings," he said. "To some +extent I do enjoy Miss Austin's patronage, but I know my drawbacks and +don't cherish any foolish hopes. If I did, I believe she'd tactfully +nip them in the bud." + +"On the whole, I'm pleased to hear it," Featherstone replied. "Now, if +you don't mind, there's something I want to read." + + + + +II + +THE MILL-OWNER + +Big arc-lamps flared above the railroad track that crossed the yard of +the Hulton factory, but except for a yellow glimmer from a few upper +windows, the building rose in a huge dark oblong against the sky. The +sharp clanging of a locomotive bell jarred on the silence, for the mill +hands had gone home and the wheels that often hummed all night were +still. It seemed to Foster, who glanced at his watch as he picked his +way among the lines, that the shadow of the recent tragedy brooded over +the place. + +"I don't know that I'm imaginative; but I wouldn't like the +night-watchman's job just now," he remarked to Featherstone. "Hulton's +illness can't have spoiled his nerve, or he'd have asked us to meet him +at his house, in view of what he probably wants to talk about." + +"I suspect that Hulton's nerve is better than yours or mine, and +although I'm sorry for the old man. It was a surprise to me when he +broke down," Featherstone replied. "This is the first time I've been +in the mill since Fred was shot, and I'll own that I'd sooner have come +in daylight." + +They went round a row of loaded cars to the timekeeper's office, where +a man told them that Hulton was waiting and they were to go right up. +A dark passage, along which their footsteps echoed, led to a flight of +stairs, and they felt there was something oppressive in the gloom, but +a small light burned near the top of the building, and when they +reached a landing Featherstone touched his partner. It was at this +spot Fred Hulton had been found lying on the floor, with a fouled +pistol of a make he was known to practice with near his hand. Foster +shivered as he noted the cleanness of the boards. It indicated careful +scrubbing, and was somehow more daunting than a sign of what had +happened there. + +A short night of stairs led to the offices of the head of the firm, and +the treasurer, whose assistant Fred Hulton had been. They went on and +entered a small, plainly-furnished room, well lighted by electric +lamps, where Hulton sat at a writing-table and signed them to sit down. +His shoulders were bent, his clothes hung slackly on his powerful +frame, and Featherstone thought his hair had grown whiter since he saw +him last. He looked ill, but his face was hard and resolute, and when +he let his eyes rest on the young men his mouth was firmly set. +Hulton's business acumen and tenacity were known, and it was supposed +that the latter quality had helped him much in the earlier part of his +career. The other man, who sat close by, was the treasurer, Percival. + +"To begin with, I want to thank you for the way you gave your +evidence," Hulton said to Featherstone, who had been one of the last to +see Fred Hulton alive. + +"I don't know that thanks are needed," Featherstone replied. "I had +promised to tell the truth." + +"Just so. The truth, however, strikes different people differently, +and you gave the matter the most favorable look you could. We'll let +it go at that. I suppose you're still convinced my son was in his +usual health and spirits? Mr. Percival is in my confidence, and we can +talk without reserve." + +"Yes, sir; I never found him morbid, and he was cheerful when I saw him +late that night." + +"In fact, you were surprised when you heard what happened soon after +you left?" Hulton suggested in a quiet voice. + +"I was shocked. But, if I catch your meaning, I was puzzled +afterwards, and had better say I see no light yet." + +"Is this how you feel about it?" Hulton asked Foster. + +"It is," said Foster, noting the man's stern calm, and Hulton turned to +Percival. + +"That's my first point! These men knew my son." + +Then he looked at Featherstone. "Fred went with you now and then on +hunting and prospecting trips, and that probably led to a certain +intimacy. You say he was never morbid; did you ever find him anxious +or disturbed?" + +Featherstone pondered. Fred Hulton, who was younger, had spent a year +or two in Europe before he entered the factory. He had moreover told +Featherstone about some trouble he had got into there, but the latter +could not tell how much his father knew. + +"You can talk straight," Hulton resumed. "I guess I won't be shocked." + +"Very well. I did find him disturbed once or twice. Perhaps you knew +he had some difficulties in Paris." + +"I knew about the girl," Hulton answered grimly. "I found that out not +long since; she was a clever adventuress. But I don't know where Fred +got the money he sent her. Did you lend it him?" + +"I lent him some," Featherstone admitted, hesitatingly. "He told me +afterwards she had promised to make no further claim, and I understand +she kept her word." + +Hulton turned to the treasurer. "You will see Mr. Featherstone about +this to-morrow. I've cleared up another point; Fred was not being +urged to send more money." Then he asked Foster: "Do you know if he +had any other dangerous friends?" + +"There was Daly. They were friends, in a way, and I wouldn't trust the +fellow. Still, I don't know how far his influence went, and imagine +Fred hadn't much to do with him for some months. Besides, Daly wasn't +at the Crossing when----" + +Hulton said nothing for the next few moments and Foster mused. Fred +Hulton had been very likable, in spite of certain weaknesses, and he +thought it cost his father something to talk about him as he did. +Hulton, however, seldom showed what he felt and would, no doubt, take +the line he thought best with a stoic disregard of the pain it might +cause. He rested his elbow on the table, as if he were tired, and sat +very quiet with his chin on his hand, until he asked Featherstone: + +"Why did you lend Fred the money he sent the girl?" + +"For one thing, because he was my friend," Featherstone answered with a +flush. "Then I knew into what straits the need of money can drive a +young man. I got into trouble myself some years ago." + +Hulton nodded. "Thank you. You helped him out. You have no ground to +think he was embarrassed by the need of money on the night he died?" + +"I feel sure he was not. He kept me some time talking cheerfully about +a hunting trip we meant to make." + +"Well," said Hulton quietly, "you're going to be surprised now. I did +not give my evidence as frankly as you claim to have done, but kept +something back. Mr. Percival was away for two or three weeks, and Fred +was the only person besides myself who knew the combination that opens +the safe. On the morning after we found him dead I examined the safe. +A number of bonds and a wad of small bills for wages had gone. It was +significant that Percival was due back next day." + +Featherstone started, but his face was hot with scornful anger. + +"That had no significance! I'd as soon suspect myself or my partner of +stealing the bonds, but the safe's being open throws a new light upon +the thing. Somebody you haven't thought of yet knew or found out the +combination." + +"Then, in face of what you have heard, you do not believe my son fired +the shot that took his life?" + +"No, sir," said Featherstone, with quiet earnestness. "I never thought +it, and it is impossible to believe it now." + +"My partner's opinion's mine," Foster broke in. Hulton looked from one +to the other and a curious steely glitter came into his eyes. It +hinted at a pitiless, unchangeable purpose, and bracing himself with an +effort he clenched his fist. + +"Nor do I believe it! If necessary, I'll let my business and factory +go and spend the last dollar I've got to find the man who killed my +boy." + +Next moment he sank limply back in his chair, as if the strain and +vindictive emotion, reacting on his physical weakness, had overcome +him, and there was silence until he recovered. Foster felt it +something of a relief that the man's icy self-control had broken down. + +"Very well," Hulton resumed in a shaky voice. "I brought you here +because you knew my son and I wanted your support. Then I meant to +convince Percival, whose help I may need to clear the boy's good name. +We'll let that go and try to be practical." + +"Were the bonds negotiable?" Foster asked. "Could they be easily sold?" + +Percival, who was about fifty years of age and had a reserved manner, +answered: "Some were bearer bonds, and, if the thief acted quickly, +would be as good as cash. Most, however, were registered stock, and it +is probable that he would be afraid to sell them in Canada or America. +The transfers would require to be forged." + +"What about Europe?" + +"That is where the danger lies. If he had clever confederates, a large +part of the value of the bonds could be borrowed from a bank, or they +might be sold to unsuspecting buyers on a French or German bourse." + +"But this would depend on the publicity you gave their theft." + +"Exactly," Percival agreed with some dryness. "I have been trying to +make Mr. Hulton recognize it." + +Hulton's tense look softened and he smiled. "Percival seems to have +forgotten that I am a business man. At the inquiry I shirked my duty +by keeping something back, and now he expects me to brand my son's good +name. The money must go. In a sense, it is a trifling loss." + +"At last, you put me wise," said Percival. "But to prove that Fred was +innocent you must find the thief." + +"That's so. It must be done with skill and tact by the best New York +private investigation man that I can hire. The job's too delicate for +the regular police." + +Featherstone, who had been sitting thoughtfully silent, looked up. +"Perhaps it's lucky the wage clerk went into the treasurer's office +after I left, though I spoke to the watchman, Jordan, as I went out." + +"No," said Percival sharply. "It wasn't Jordan's week on night-guard." + +There was silence for a moment, and then Hulton asked: "Where did you +meet the man you thought was Jordan? Did he answer you?" + +"He was going along the ground-floor passage in front of me, and the +only light was in the pay-office at the end. He stood in the doorway +as I passed and I said, 'It's a cold night, Tom.' I'd gone a few yards +when he answered, 'It will be colder soon.'" + +"Then as you passed the door he must have seen your face, though you +could not see his," said Hulton, who turned to Percival. "Clark was on +night-guard and his name's not Tom. Where was he when Mr. Featherstone +left?" + +"In the lathe-room at the other end of the building. The punch in the +check-clock shows it," Percival replied. + +Hulton pondered, knitting his brows, before he said, "Since you thought +the man was Jordan, you wouldn't know him again." + +"No; he was about Jordan's height and build, but I only saw his figure. +It showed dark and rather indistinct against the light." + +"Well," said Hulton, "you see the importance of this. We have +something to go upon; a stranger was in the factory." Then he got up +with a look of keen relief in his worn face. "I thank you and your +partner; you have given me hope. Some day all who knew my boy will +believe what you believe. Now I have something to say to Percival, and +then he must help me home to bed." + +He shook hands with them and let them go. They left the factory in +silence, but as they crossed the yard Foster remarked: "I'm sorry for +Hulton. For all his quietness, he takes the thing very hard." + +"I imagine the fellow who shot Fred Hulton will need your pity most," +Featherstone replied. "The old man will run him down with the +determination and energy that helped him to build up his business. +Money with brains behind it is a power, but I wouldn't like Hulton on +my track if he hadn't a cent. There's something relentless about the +man." He paused and resumed: "Well, he has a clew. It's curious I +didn't think of mentioning before that I spoke to the watchman, but I +thought the fellow was Jordan. I wonder how the thief will get the +bonds across to Europe." + +"There would be some danger in carrying them; anyhow, he'd imagine so, +although it looks as if Hulton doesn't mean to tell the police much +just yet. Of course, there's the mail, but the thief might be afraid +to post the papers." + +Featherstone nodded. "I think it's in Hulton's favor that he'll be +satisfied with one of the private detective agencies to begin with, +while the man he's looking for will be on his guard against the police. +Besides, it's possible that the fellow won't take many precautions, +since there's a plausible explanation of Fred Hulton's death." + +"Do you think the man you passed saw you well enough to know you again?" + +"He may have done so." + +"Then if he imagined that you saw him, it would make a difference," +Foster said thoughtfully, "He'd reckon that you were the greatest +danger he had to guard against." + +Featherstone stopped and caught his comrade's arm as the yard +locomotive pushed some cars along the track they were about to cross, +and the harsh tolling of the bell made talking difficult. When the +cars had passed they let the matter drop and went back to the hotel +where they had left their automobile. + + + +III + +FOSTER MAKES A PROMISE + +There was been frost next evening and Foster drove to the Crossing +without his comrade, who thought it wiser to stay at home. The reunion +he was going to attend was held annually by one or two mutual-improvement +societies that combined to open their winter sessions. It had originally +begun with a lecture on art or philosophy, but had degenerated into a +supper and dance. Supper came early, because in Canada the meal is +generally served about six o'clock. + +The wooden hall was decorated with flags and cedar boughs, and well +filled with young men and women, besides a number of older citizens. The +floor and music were good, and Foster enjoyed two dances before he met +Carmen Austin. He had not sought her out, because she was surrounded by +others, and he knew that if she wanted to dance with him she would let +him know. It was generally wise to wait Carmen's pleasure. + +When he left his last partner he stood in a quiet nook, looking about the +hall. The girls were pretty and tastefully dressed, though generally +paler than the young Englishwomen he remembered. The men were athletic, +and their well-cut clothes, which fitted somewhat tightly, showed their +finely developed but rather lean figures. They had a virile, decided +look, and an ease of manner that indicated perfect self-confidence. +Indeed, some were marked by an air of smartness that was half aggressive. +A large number were employed at the Hulton factory, but there were +brown-faced farmers and miners from the bush, as well as storekeepers +from the town. + +On the whole, their dress, manners and conversation were American, and +Foster was sometimes puzzled by their inconsistency. He liked these +people and got on well with them, but had soon discovered that in order +to do so he must abandon his English habits and idiosyncrasies. His +neighbors often showed a certain half-hostile contempt for the customs of +the Old Country, and he admitted that had he been less acquainted with +their character, it would have been easy to imagine that Gardner's +Crossing was situated in Michigan instead of Ontario. Yet they had +rejected the Reciprocity Treaty on patriotic grounds, and in a recent +crisis had demonstrated their passionate approval of Britain's policy. +He had no doubt that if the need came they would offer the mother country +the best they had with generous enthusiasm, and nobody knew better that +their best was very good. + +By and by Carmen dismissed the young men around her and summoned him with +a graceful motion of her fan. He crossed the floor, and when he stopped +close by with a bow that was humorously respectful she gave him a cool, +approving glance. Foster was twenty-eight, but looked younger. Though +he had known hardship, his face was smooth, and when unoccupied he had a +good-humored and somewhat languid air. He was tall and rather thin, but +athletic toil had toughened and strengthened him, and he had frank gray +eyes that generally smiled. A glove that looked significantly slack +covered his left hand, which had been maimed by a circular saw when he +worked in his mill. + +Carmen was a blonde, but with none of the softness that often +characterizes this type of beauty. Her features were sharply cut, her +well-proportioned figure was firmly lined, and the lack of color in her +face was made up for by the keen sparkle in her eyes. As a rule, Carmen +Austin's wishes were carried out. She knew how to command, and rival +beauties who now and then ventured to oppose her soon found that her +power was unshakable. + +"You haven't thought it worth while to ask for a dance yet," she +remarked, and Foster could not tell if she was offended or not. + +"No," he replied, smiling, "I was afraid of getting a disappointment, +since I didn't know your plans, but only made a few engagements in case +you sent for me. One finds it best to wait your orders." + +Carmen studied him thoughtfully. "You generally take the proper line; +sometimes I think you're cleverer than you look. Anyway, one isn't +forced to explain things to you. Explaining what one wants is always +annoying." + +"Exactly. My business is to guess what you would like and carry it out +as far as I can. When I'm right this saves you some trouble and gives me +keen satisfaction. It makes me think I am intelligent." + +"Our boys are a pretty good sample, but they don't talk like that. I +suppose you learned it in the Old Country. You know, you're very +English, in some respects." + +"Well," said Foster, "that is really not my fault. I was born English, +but I'll admit that I've found it a drawback since I came to Canada." + +Carmen indicated the chair next her. "You may sit down if you like. You +start for the Old Country on Thursday, don't you?" + +"Thank you; yes," said Foster. "One likes to be in the fashion, and it's +quite the proper thing to make the trip when work's finished for the +winter. You find miners saving their wages to buy a ticket, and the +Manitoba men sail across by dozens after a good harvest. As they often +maintain that the Old Country's a back number, one wonders why they go." + +"After all, I suppose they were born there." + +"That doesn't seem to count. As a rule, there's nobody more Canadian +first of all than the man who's only a Canadian by adoption." + +"Then why do you want to go?" + +"I can't tell you. I had a hard life in England and, on the whole, was +glad to get away. Perhaps it's a homing instinct, like the pigeon's, and +perhaps it's sentiment. We came out because nobody wanted us and have +made ourselves pretty comfortable. America's our model and we have no +use for English patronage, but every now and then the pull comes and we +long to go back, though we wouldn't like to stop there. It's illogical, +but if there was trouble in Europe and the Old Country needed help, we'd +all go across." + +"In a mild way, the journey's something of an adventure," Carmen +suggested. "Doesn't that appeal to a man?" + +"It does," Foster agreed. "One might imagine that there was enough +adventure here, but it really isn't so. The lone trail has a mineral +claim at the end of it; you look forward to the elevator company's +receipt when you break the new furrow. Hardship gets as monotonous as +comfort; you want something fresh, a job, in fact, that you don't +undertake for money. Of course, if you look at it economically, this is +foolish." + +"I like you better as a sentimentalist than a philosopher," Carmen +answered. "It's the former one goes to when one wants things done. +However, if you would like a dance----" + +She danced well and Foster knew there were men in the hall who envied +him. He, moreover, imagined that Carmen knew it would be remarked that +she had banished her other attendants and shown him special favor. This, +of course, would not trouble her, because Carmen generally did what she +pleased, but he felt inclined to wonder about her object. He knew her +well enough to think she had an object. When the music stopped she said, +"Now you may take me in to supper." + +Supper was served in an ante-room, but, although this was contrary to +local custom, the guests came in when they liked and were provided with +small, separate tables. Instead of Foster's leading, Carmen guided him +to a quiet nook, partly screened by cedar branches, where they could see +without being seen. He thought it significant that a spot with such +advantages should be unoccupied, but this did not cause him much +surprise. Things generally happened as Carmen wanted, and it was a +privilege to sup with the prettiest and cleverest girl in the hall. + +"You are going to stay at Featherstone's home in England, aren't you?" +she asked by and by. + +"Yes," said Foster, who wondered how she knew. "Since I've spent ten +years on the plains and in the bush, it will be a rather embarrassing +change. You see, I'm better used to bachelor shacks and logging camps +than English country houses." + +Carmen firmly brought him back to the subject. "Do you know much about +your partner's relatives? It's obvious that he belongs to a good family. +However, you'll have him with you." + +Foster smiled. He did not mean to tell her that Featherstone was not +going with him. + +"I know nothing about them. In fact, my ignorance of the habits of a +good family rather weighs on my mind." + +Carmen gave him a level, critical glance. "They won't be able to find +much fault with you, and if they did, you wouldn't guess it, so it +wouldn't matter. But that is not what I meant. You have been +Featherstone's partner for some time, and it's curious that he has told +you nothing about his home." + +"He's reserved," said Foster, who looked up as Daly came into the room +with a laughing girl, at whom Carmen glanced somewhat coldly. "Do you +know what that man is doing here?" + +"I don't, but as he's agent for an engineering company, I dare say he's +looking for orders. Hulton's are buying new plant." + +"But he's often in your father's office and at your house, and Mr. Austin +doesn't buy machines." + +"Then perhaps he's speculating in building lots; we deal in them," Carmen +rejoined with a laugh. "I sometimes meet my father's friends, but don't +ask them about their business." + +She went on with her supper, and Daly and his companion sat down not far +off. The fellow was well dressed and on the whole a handsome man, though +there was nothing about him to excite marked attention. He looked a +little older than Foster, who studied him thoughtfully. Daly had sold +one or two machines in the neighborhood of the Crossing, but the business +he did there hardly seemed to warrant his visit. It was possible that he +made it an excuse for watching Featherstone, but Foster fancied that +Carmen knew more about him than she confessed. + +"Perhaps you will visit Scotland before you come back," she said by and +by. + +"It's possible. Featherstone's relations live near the Border." + +"Then I dare say you will take a packet for me to Edinburgh." + +"Of course," said Foster, who felt some surprise, and thought Carmen saw +this although she looked at him gratefully. + +"I know you'll take care of it, and you don't ask questions; but you +wonder why I want to send it by you. Well, the girls are inquisitive in +our post office, and I'm sending the packet to a man. Besides, I +wouldn't like it damaged, and things sometimes get broken in the mail." + +Foster said this often happened and hinted that the man was fortunate, +but Carmen laughed. + +"Oh," she said, "he's as old as my father; we have friends in the Old +Country. But there really is a little secret about the matter, and I +don't want anybody but you to see the packet." + +"Very well; but I believe the Customs searchers, who examine your +baggage, are sometimes officious. They might think I was trying to +smuggle and make me open the thing." + +"No; they wouldn't suspect you. You have such a careless and innocent +look. For all that, your friends know you can be trusted." + +"Thank you! I suppose I'm lucky, because one meets people whose looks are +against them. Anyhow, I'll take the packet, and if necessary, protect it +with my life." + +"It won't be necessary," Carmen answered, smiling. Although she talked +about other matters for some minutes before she told him to take her back +to the hall, he imagined this was tactful politeness and she did not want +to dismiss him too soon after obtaining her object. + +He danced one or two dances with other partners and enjoyed them keenly. +His work was finished for the winter, and after the strenuous toil of the +last ten years, it was a new and exhilarating experience to feel at +liberty. Then there was no reason he should deny himself the pleasure he +expected to derive from his trip. Their small mill was only adapted for +the supply of certain kinds of lumber, for which there was now not much +demand, and they had not enough money to remodel it, while business would +not get brisk again until the spring. + +By and by he went to the smoking-room and lighting a cigarette, thought +over what Carmen had said to him. At first she had seemed anxious to +find out something about Featherstone, but he was not surprised by this. +Carmen liked to know as much as possible about everybody she met, and +used her knowledge cleverly when it was to her advantage. The other +matter was more puzzling and he wondered why she wanted to send a packet +secretly to a man as old as her father. It might, of course, be a +caprice, because girls were fond of mystery, but, as a rule, Carmen had a +practical object for what she did. She had stated that they had friends +in England, and this might mean that she had a lover. Perhaps she had +exaggerated his age, and in any case, Foster thought it would not be a +great drawback, if the man were rich. Carmen was rather ambitious than +romantic. + +Her plans, however, were not his business, and he felt no jealousy. He +liked Carmen and had some respect for her abilities, but thought he would +sooner not marry her, even if she were willing, which was most +improbable. Since he had promised to take the packet, he would do so and +say nothing about the matter. + +He left the hall early, and driving home found his partner sitting by the +stove. + +"Was Daly at the reunion?" Featherstone asked. + +Foster said he was there, and Featherstone resumed thoughtfully: "It's +curious he hasn't come to the mill yet, but if he doesn't turn up before +Thursday, he'll be too late. I'll be ready to start with you by the +afternoon train, and as there's no use in spoiling a good plan for a few +dollars, I'll buy a ticket and check my baggage to Ottawa. Then I'll get +off at Streeton Creek, where I won't have long to wait if the west-bound +train's on time. You can express my things on from Ottawa. The Montreal +express stops about an hour." + +"That ought to throw Daly off the track," Foster agreed, and they talked +about something else. + + + + +IV + +THE FIRST ADVENTURE + +It was about ten o'clock at night and the Montreal express sped through +the lonely forest of North Ontario. The train was light, for there +were few passengers on board, and the road was by no means good, but in +spite of the jolting Foster enjoyed his cigarette in a corner of the +smoking compartment at the end of a car. A colored porter had told him +his berth in the sleeper was ready, Featherstone had left the train, +and most of the passengers were already in bed, but Foster did not want +to follow them just yet. For a time, he had done with business, and +was on his way to England. He relished the unusual sense of freedom. + +A half-moon shone down upon the rugged wilderness, and he could see the +black pines rush past. The cars lurched and he heard the great +locomotive snort on the inclines. Now and then there was a roar as +they sped across a bridge, and water glimmered among the rocks below; +afterwards the roar sank into a steady clatter and a soothing throb of +wheels. The car was warm, and Foster, who had given the porter his +overcoat, was lighting another cigarette when a man came in and sat +down opposite. He looked hard at Foster, who quietly returned his +gaze. The man was about his own height but some years older, and his +expression was disturbed. + +Foster felt interested. He had faced danger in the northern +wilderness, where he had risked starvation and traveled on frozen +rivers when the ice was breaking up. Besides, he had once or twice +been involved in savage fights about disputed mining claims, and knew +how men looked when they bore a heavy strain. He thought the stranger +was afraid but was not a coward. + +"You're going to Ottawa, aren't you? I heard you talking to your +friend," said the man. + +"I'm going to Montreal, but don't see what that has to do with you." + +The other made a sign of impatience. "Well, I dare say you can be +trusted, and I've got to take a risk." + +"It is a risk to trust a man you don't know," Foster rejoined. "But +how can I help?" + +"I want you to put on my coat and cap, and stay here, reading the +_Witness_, for about ten minutes." + +"Holding the newspaper in front of my face, I suppose? Well, it's +rather an unusual request and I must know a little more. If there's a +detective on your trail and you expect me to hold his attention while +you hide or try to jump off the train, I must refuse." + +The stranger smiled. "I've wired for the police to meet me at Ottawa; +the trouble is that I mayn't get there. Time won't allow of a long +explanation, but there are men on board who'd stop at nothing to +prevent my arrival. In fact, to some extent, I'm putting my life in +your hands." + +Foster looked at him, surprised. He had not expected an adventure of +this kind on a Canadian Pacific train, but did not think the other was +exaggerating. + +"How many men?" he asked. + +"I've seen one, but know there are more." + +"Then why not tell the conductor and have the train searched?" + +"It wouldn't work. I might find one enemy, but I'd warn the others +that I was on my guard, and to let them think I suspect no danger is +the best chance I have. The conductor's making his way up the train, +and I'm going to see if he can get me into the express car. It's the +only safe place; the clerks are armed. Well, my business is lawful and +in the public interest, and I take it you're a patriotic citizen." + +Foster saw that he must decide quickly. Somehow he did not doubt the +man, who kept his eyes on the door as if he expected somebody to come +in. Moreover, he expected to be met by the police at Ottawa. + +"It looks as if I'd run your risk when I put on your coat," he said. + +"The porter's sweeping up the car, and if you keep the door open, +you'll be safe while he's about. Besides, if I can't get into the +express car, I'll come back. Give me ten minutes, and then, if I don't +turn up and you feel uneasy, take off the coat and put the newspaper +down." + +"Very well," said Foster. "Perhaps you had better take my hat." + +The stranger gave him his heavy fur coat. "I'll ask you for it at +Ottawa. You're going to Montreal. What's your name?" + +Foster told him and he resumed: "Then, if you don't see me, stop at the +_Windsor_, where I can telegraph, a day or two. You'll be repaid for +any expense or inconvenience. Well, I'm going. Thanks!" + +"Good luck!" said Foster, who sat down and opened the _Witness_. + +Now he was alone, he began to wonder if he had been imposed upon. The +man, however, did not look like a criminal; though alarmed, he had an +air of quiet authority. In a sense, it seemed absurd that he should +think himself in danger. Violence was not common in Canada, where the +carrying of weapons was prohibited, and Foster had never heard of any +sensational crime on the big expresses. Still he thought the man would +not be afraid without good cause. He did not look like a detective, +and Foster felt nearly sure he had not got on board at the Crossing. +This seemed to indicate that he could not have been investigating the +tragedy there, particularly since Hulton had only recovered from the +shock a few days ago. Then Hulton had stated that he meant to send for +a New York man, and not that he had done so. The fellow, however, +might be a confidential agent of the Government's, who had perhaps +found out something about certain mysterious attempts to damage public +property. + +By and by Foster smiled. Carmen had given him a valuable packet to +take care of, and now this stranger had asked his help. Both had +stated their confidence in him, but it was getting obvious that to look +as if one could be trusted had its drawbacks. He did not feel much +disturbed as he read the newspaper, which reported the arrest of two +strangers with dynamite cartridges near the locks of a big canal, but +presently put it down and glanced at his watch. The ten minutes had +nearly gone and he looked out of the window. A frozen lake shimmered +at the edge of the track and then, with a harsh uproar, the train +plunged into the shadow of a cliff. On the summit stunted pines cut +against the sky, and Foster knew they ran from the Manitoban border to +the Ottawa across as rugged and stony a wilderness as there is in the +Dominion. The stations were small and sometimes only places where the +locomotives stopped for water. He could not remember when they had +passed the last. + +Looking at his watch again, he saw that he had kept his promise, but +decided to give the man a few more minutes, and then go to his berth, +unless he could learn something about him from the conductor. The +berth was in the Pullman farther along the train, and after walking +through the empty car he opened the door of a vestibule and stepped out +on the platform. It was unprotected except for a brass rail at the +side, which was divided in the middle where the steps went down. The +floor jolted and a bitter wind that whistled between the vestibules +buffeted him. Although he wore the fur coat, he shivered, and as he +stepped across the gap between the platforms the door behind him +rattled. + +Turning sharply round, he saw a man's dark figure in the shadow of the +curving roof, and felt his heart beat. Then the door he had been +making for swung back, and he knew he had another antagonist to deal +with. He carried no pistol and there was not much chance of a shout +for help being heard, but he did not wait to be attacked, and with a +sudden spring threw himself upon the man in front. He felt his +knuckles jar and heard the fellow's head crash against the vestibule, +but the other seized him as he turned. Foster surmised that they +feared the report of a pistol but might use the knife, and determined +to throw the fellow down the steps. If this proved impossible, he must +try to jump off the train. + +So far as he could remember, the savage struggle only lasted a few +moments. His assailant had apparently not room enough to draw a weapon +and Foster kept his grip on him, so that he could not free his right +arm, although this left his own face exposed. He was breathless and +exhausted when he fell against the rail, but with a tense effort he +lifted the fellow off his feet. Since there seemed to be no other way, +they must both fall off the train. He lost his balance and his foot +slipping from the top step threw him backward. Then he missed the rail +he clutched at and felt a heavy shock. + +When his senses came back he found that he was lying on hard-frozen +ground. There were dark firs about, but, a little farther on, the +rails glistened in the moonlight, and he dully realized that he had +fallen off the car. A faint snorting and a rumble that echoed across +the forest showed that the train was going on. Foster lay still and +listened until the sound died away. It looked as if nobody but the men +who had attacked him knew there had been a struggle and he was left +behind. Then he cautiously raised his head and leaning on his elbow +looked about. It was a relief to find that he could do so, but he must +see if his antagonist had fallen off with him, because if the fellow +was not badly hurt he might renew the attack. + +There was nothing in the shadow beside the line, the gap where the +rails ran into the moonlight was empty, and everything was still, +except for the sigh of the cold breeze among the firs. For all that, +Foster hesitated about getting up. The train was probably going at +forty miles an hour, the ground was hard, and he might find that some +bones were broken when he tried to move. The shock had perhaps dulled +his senses and prevented his feeling much pain. It was, however, +bitterly cold, and making an effort he got shakily upon his feet. To +his surprise, he discovered that he was not much the worse although he +felt sore and dizzy, and he sat down on a fallen branch to think what +he should do. + +The next station was probably only marked by an agent's office and a +water-tank. Besides, his antagonists might get down there and come +back to look for him, in which case he would be at their mercy if they +met. It was a long way to the station they had passed, but he thought +the safest plan would be to make for it. This meant a walk of some +hours, with nothing to eat on the way, but a train from Winnipeg would +stop early in the morning, and the others would not expect him to +resume his journey east. If they had found out their mistake, they +would take it for granted that he was a confederate of the man they +followed and most likely calculate on his trying to reach the new +Canadian Northern line. Foster felt angry with the fellow who had +lured him into the adventure and resolved to extricate himself from it +as soon as possible. + +Getting up, he started west along the track, and after a time found +himself embarrassed by the fur coat. It was heavy and too warm, but he +would need it when he stopped. Then he wore thin city boots, and the +track, as usual, was roughly ballasted with coarse gravel. The stones +rolled about under his feet, and the ties were irregularly spaced, so +that he could not step from one to another except by an awkward stride. +He went on, however, and by and by began to wonder where he could get a +drink, for the struggle or the shock had made him thirsty. + +The big coat proved troublesome to carry when he took it off. After a +time his feet got sore and he tried to walk in the shallow drain beside +the line, but this was filled with ice, on which he slipped. He had +traveled by rougher trails and carried heavy loads, but that was some +years ago and he wore different boots and fastened on his pack by +proper straps. Moreover, one got soft when leading a business life. + +By and by he heard the roar of water and pushing on faster came to a +foaming creek that plunged down a stony ravine. A bridge crossed the +gorge, and leaving the track he clambered down the rocky bank. Where +the spray had fallen there were patches of ice, but Foster felt that he +must get a drink. When he was half-way down his foot slipped and he +slid the rest of the distance, bringing up with a shock at the edge of +the water, where he struck a projecting stone. He felt shaken, but got +a drink, and when he began to climb back found that he had wrenched his +knee. Some movements were not painful, but when his weight came upon +the joint it hurt. He must get up, for all that, and reached the top, +where he sat down with his lips firmly set, and after putting on the +coat felt in the pocket for a cigarette. + +The case he took out was not his, and he remembered that he was wearing +another man's coat. The cigarettes were of Turkish tobacco, which is +not much used in Canada, and he thought the quality remarkably good. +This seemed to imply that their owner had a cultivated taste, and +Foster began to wonder whether he was after all not a business man +running away from his creditors, but rejected the theory. It was +strange that although the cigarettes were expensive the case was of the +kind sold in Western stores for fifty cents, but Foster presently gave +up speculating about the man. + +The moon was getting low and ragged pine branches cut against the +light. The track was wrapped in shadow that was only a little less +dense than the gloom of the surrounding bush. It was not really cold +for North Ontario, but the fur coat was hardly enough protection to +make a bed in the open air comfortable. Foster had slept in the +Athabasca forests when the thermometer marked forty degrees below zero, +but he then wore different clothes and had been able to make a roaring +fire and build a snow-bank between him and the wind. Moreover, he was +still liable to be overtaken by the men on the train. + +Getting up, he found his knee sore and stiff, but limped on for an hour +or two after the moon sank. He seemed to be stumbling along the bottom +of a dark trench, for the firs shut him in like a wall and there was +only an elusive glimmer of light above their serrated tops. He did not +expect to find a house until he reached the station, for much of North +Ontario is a wilderness where the trees are too small for milling and +agriculture is impossible among the rocks. To make things worse, he +felt hungry. The train had stopped at about seven o'clock at a +desolate station where the passengers were given a few minutes to get +supper, but Foster's portion was too hot for him to eat. He tried to +encourage himself by remembering that he had once marched three hundred +miles across the snow with a badly frozen foot, but this did not make +his present exertion easier. + +As he got hungry he got angry. He had gone away to enjoy himself, and +this was how his holiday had begun! The Government agent, if that was +what he was, ought not to have dragged a confiding stranger into his +difficulties. He was now safe in the express car and chuckling over +the troubles he had left his substitute to face. Then Foster tried to +remember if he had left any papers with his address in his overcoat and +decided that he had not done so. His wallet was now in his jacket +pocket. This was satisfactory, because he meant to have nothing more +to do with the matter. Tying the fur coat round his waist to take some +of the weight off his shoulders, he trudged on as briskly as he could +through the gloom. + + + + +V + +FEATHERSTONE'S PEOPLE + +After walking for some time, Foster heard a rumble in the distance +behind him and climbed the rocky bank of the single-line track. There +was not much room between the bank and rails, and he was glad of an +excuse for sitting down. Taking out the stranger's case, he lighted +another of the Turkish cigarettes. They were the only benefit he was +likely to derive from the adventure, and he felt some satisfaction in +making use of them. + +In the meantime, the rumble grew into a roar that rolled across the +forest with a rhythmic beat, and a ray of light pierced the gloom up +the track. It was very bright and he knew it was thrown by a +locomotive headlamp. A west-bound freight train was coming and he must +wait until it passed. Freight trains were common objects, but as a +rule when Foster saw one approaching he stopped to watch. The great +size and power of the locomotive appealed to his imagination, and he +liked to think of the reckless courage of the men who drove the steel +road through eight hundred miles of rugged wilderness to Port Arthur, +and then on again through rocks and muskegs to the Western prairie. It +was a daring feat, when one remembered the obstacles and that there was +no traffic to be developed on the way. + +The beam of light became a cone of dazzling radiance; the rocks +throbbed, and the gnarled pines shook as the roar swelled into a +tremendous harmony of many different notes. Then there was sudden +darkness as the locomotive leaped past, and huge box-cars rushed, +lurching and rocking, out of the thick, black smoke. Flying ballast +crashed against the rocks, and though the ground was frozen hard a hail +of small particles rattled among the trees. Then, as the tail-lights +on the caboose sped by, a deep hoot of the whistle came back from about +a quarter of a mile off, and soon afterwards the fading glimmer +vanished round a curve. It seemed to be going slower, and the rumble +died away suddenly. Foster thought there was a side-track ahead, where +the freight would wait until a train going in the other direction +crossed the switches. If he could reach the spot in time, he might +save himself a long walk. + +His knee hurt as he stumbled over the gravel at the best pace he could +make, but that did not matter much, A few minutes' sharp pain could be +borne, and he set his lips as he ran, while the perspiration dripped +from him and his breath got short. This was the consequence of leading +a soft and, in a sense, luxurious life, he thought, but when he tried +to walk next day he understood the reason better. Still, he did not +mean to be left behind in the frozen bush, and as he reached the curve +was relieved to see lights flicker about the track. When he stopped a +man flashed a lantern into his face. + +"Looks as if you'd made good time, but the track's pretty rough for +breaking records on," he remarked. + +"That's so," Foster answered breathlessly. "I wanted to get here +before you pulled out, because I'm going on with you." + +"No, sir; it's clean against the rules. You can't get a free ride now +on a C.P. freight" + +"The rules apply to hobos. I've got a first-class ticket to Montreal." + +"Then why in thunder are you running back to Fort William?" + +"I'd have been satisfied to make the next station. You see, I fell off +the train." + +Another man, who wore big gloves and grimy over-alls, had come up, and +laughed when he heard Foster's explanation. + +"You sure look pretty lively after falling off the Montreal express. +Guess you must have done that kind of thing before? But our bosses are +getting blamed particular about these free rides." + +Foster opened his wallet and took out a strip of paper, folded in +sections, but it was not by accident he held two or three dollar bills +against it. + +"There's my ticket. I bought it at the agent's office, but I expect +you know what would have happened if I'd got it on board. Anyway, +you've heard of the drummer who beat his passage from Calgary to +Toronto at the cost of a box of cigars." + +The brakesmen grinned, because the hint was plain. It is said on +Western railroads that when a conductor collects a fare he throws the +money at the car-roof and accounts to the company for as much as sticks +there. + +"Well," said the first man, "I guess we'll take our chances and you can +get into the caboose. You'll find blankets, and a bunk where you can +lie down if you take off your boots. We'll dump you somewheres handy +for catching the next east-bound." + +Foster found the caboose comfortably warm. There was a stove in the +middle and two or three bunks were fixed to the walls. In a few +minutes the train they waited for went roaring past, and when the +freight started one of the men gave him some supper. Then he got into +a bunk and went to sleep. + +He caught the next express going east, and on reaching Ottawa, where he +had some time to wait, half expected the man he had helped would come, +or send somebody, to meet him. Although he wore the fur coat and stood +in a conspicuous place, he was not accosted, and presently bought a +newspaper. It threw no light upon the matter, and for a time he walked +up and down, considering if he would go to the police. This was +perhaps his duty, but it looked as if the owner of the coat had not +been molested. After all, the fellow might be an absconding debtor, +and if not it was obvious that he had some reason for keeping his +secret. Foster decided to let him do so, and went back to the train. + +When he arrived at Montreal he went to the _Windsor_ as he had been +told, but there was no letter or telegram waiting and none came during +the day or two he stayed. On the evening before he sailed he was +sitting in the large entrance hall, which is a feature of American and +Canadian hotels, when he thought a man some distance off looked hard at +him over his newspaper. Foster only caught a momentary glimpse of his +face, because he held up the paper as if to get a better light and +people were moving about between them; but he thought the man was Daly, +and after a few moments carelessly crossed the floor. + +A man sat at the spot he had marked and the chairs on both sides were +unoccupied, but when Foster sat down in the nearest he saw the fellow +was a stranger. This puzzled him, since he did not think he had been +mistaken. It was, however, possible that Daly had been there, but had +moved off quietly when Foster's view was obstructed. If so, he must +have had an object for hiding, and Foster waited some minutes before he +went to the office and examined the guestbook. Daly's name did not +appear, and he found that nobody from the West had signed the book +recently. + +"I wanted to see if a man I know is staying here," he told the clerk. + +"That's all right," said the other. "Quite a number of people have +been looking for friends to-day." + +Foster described Daly as well as he could, and asked if he had examined +the book. + +"No," said the clerk. "Nobody just like that had the register while +I've been about; but now I think of it, a man who might meet the bill +stood by while another looked at the last page." Then he indicated a +figure near the revolving door, "There! that's who he was with!" + +As the man pushed the door round Foster saw his face, and knew him for +the stranger who had occupied the chair in which he had expected to +find Daly. He thanked the clerk and went back thoughtfully to his +place, because it looked as if Daly had been there and the other had +helped him to steal away. If this surmise was correct, they might be +trying to follow Featherstone; but he was, fortunately, out of their +reach, and Foster decided that he must not exaggerate the importance of +the matter. After all, Daly might have come to Montreal on business, +and the rotunda of a Canadian hotel is something of a public resort. +Still, he felt disturbed and presently gave the clerk the fur coat, +telling him to deliver it when asked for. He felt it a relief to get +rid of the thing. + +Next day he sailed on an Empress liner, and on the evening after he +reached England left the train at a lonely station in the North. It +was not yet dark, and for a moment or two he stood on the platform +looking about. There had been rain, and the air had a damp freshness +that was unusual in Canada. In the east and north the sky was covered +with leaden cloud, against which rounded hilltops were faintly marked. +Rugged moors rolled in long slopes towards the west, where the horizon +was flushed with vivid saffron and delicate green. Up the middle of +the foreground ran a deep valley, with blue shadow in its bottom and +touches of orange light on its heathy sides. There were few trees, +although a line of black firs ran boldly to the crest of a neighboring +rise, and stone dykes were more common than the ragged hedges. Foster +saw no plowed land, and nothing except heather seemed to grow on the +peaty soil, which looked black as jet where the railway cutting pierced +it. Indeed, he thought the landscape as savage and desolate as any he +had seen in Canada, but as he did not like tame country this had a +certain charm. + +While he looked about a man came up. He was elderly and dressed with +extreme neatness in old-fashioned dark clothes, but he had the +unmistakable look of a gentleman's servant. Though there was a small +car in the road, he was obviously not a professional chauffeur. + +"You'll be Mr. Foster, sir, for the Garth?" he said. + +Foster said he was and the man resumed: "Mr. Featherstone sent the car +and his apologies. He had to attend the court, being a magistrate, and +hoped you would excuse his not coming." + +Then he picked up Foster's portmanteau and called a porter, who was +moving some clanging milk cans, to bring his bag. + +"Never mind; I'll take it," Foster told him. + +"As you like, sir, but it's perhaps not quite usual in this country," +the other answered in a deprecatory tone. + +"I suppose I ought to have remembered that," Foster agreed smiling. + +They crossed the platform, and while they waited for the bag the man +said respectfully, "Might I ask if Mr. Lawrence was better when you +left, sir? It was a disappointment to us when we heard he could not +come home." + +Foster liked the fellow. He was very formal, but seemed to include +himself in his master's family. + +"Yes," he said. "In fact, I expect he'll be quite well in a month or +two. I suppose you were at the Garth before my partner left?" + +"I've served Mr. Featherstone for thirty years, sir, and led Mr. +Lawrence's first pony and cleaned his first gun. It wasn't my regular +duty, sir, but he was the only son and I looked after him. If I may +say so, we were much upset when we heard that he was ill." + +Then the bag was brought, and as the car ran across the moor Foster +noted the smooth, hard surface of the wet road. The country was wild +and desolate, but they had no roads like this in Canada, except perhaps +in one or two of the larger cities. Indeed, in Western towns he knew, +it was something of an adventure to cross the street during the spring +thaw. The light got red and angry as they dipped into the valley; the +firs on the hillcrest stood out black and sharp, and then melted into +the gray background. A river pool shone with a ruby gleam that +suddenly went out, and the dim water vanished into the shadow, brawling +among the stones. + +There was smooth pasture in the valley, broken by dark squares of +turnip fields and pale stubble; but here and there the heath appeared +again and wild cotton showed faintly white above the black peat-soil. +By and by a cross, standing by itself on the lonely hillside, caught +Foster's eye, and he asked his companion about it. + +"The Count's Cross, sir; a courtesy title they held in the next dale. +He was killed in a raid on a tower down the water, before the +Featherstones came." + +"But did they bury him up there?" + +"No, sir; they were all buried at night by the water of Langrigg, but +when they were carrying him home in the mist by the hill road the Scots +from the tower overtook them. The Count's men were wounded and their +horses foundered, but the Scots let them go when they found that he was +dead. About 1300, sir. Somebody put up the cross to commemorate it." + +"They seem to have been a chivalrous lot," Foster remarked. "I wonder +if that kind of thing would happen nowadays!" + +"I'm afraid one couldn't expect it, sir," the old fellow answered and +Foster smiled. + +The cross faded into the hillside; it got dark and the valley narrowed. +Trees grew in sheltered spots; the faint, delicate tracery of birch +branches breaking the solid, black ranks of the firs. The road wound +along the river, which roared, half seen, in the gloom. Now and then +they ran through water, and presently the glare of the headlamps bored +through breast-high mist. There was a smell of wet soil and rotting +leaves. It was very different from the tangled pine bush of Ontario +and the stark bareness of the plains, but it was somehow familiar and +Foster felt that he was at home. + +By and by the moon came out, and the mist got thinner as they ran into +an opening where the side of the glen fell back. Lights twinkled at +the foot of a hill, and as they sped on the irregular outline of a +house showed against a background of trees. It glimmered, long and +low, in the moonlight, and then Foster lost it as they ran through a +gate into the darkness of a belt of firs. A minute or two later, the +car slowed and stopped after passing round a bend. + +A wide door stood hospitably open, and a figure upon the steps cut +against the light. There were two more figures inside the hall, and as +he got down Foster heard voices that sounded strangely pleasant and +refined. Then a man whom he could not see well shook hands with him +and took him in, and he stopped, half dazzled by the brightness. + +The hall was large and a fire burned on a deep hearth. There were oil +lamps on tall pillars, and in the background a broad staircase ran up +to a gallery in the gloom. Foster, however, had not much time to look +about, for as soon as he had given up his hat and coat his host led him +towards the fire and two ladies came up. He knew one was his partner's +mother and the other his sister, but although they were like Lawrence +he remarked a difference that was puzzling until he understood its +origin. Mrs. Featherstone had an unmistakable stamp of dignity, but +her face was gentle and her look very friendly; her daughter was tall +and Foster thought remarkably graceful, with an air of pride and +reserve, although this vanished when she gave him a frank welcoming +smile. Featherstone, who was older than his wife, had short, gray +hair, and a lined, brown face, but looked strong and carried himself +well. + +Foster, who liked them at once, wondered rather anxiously whether he +had pleased or disappointed them. But he imagined that they would +reserve their opinion. They were, of course, not the people to show +what they thought, and if he had felt any embarrassment, they would +have known how to put him at his ease. Still his type was, no doubt, +new to them and his views might jar. He did not remember what they +said, but they somehow made him feel he was not a stranger but a friend +who had a claim, and when he went to his room he knew he would enjoy +his stay with Featherstone's people. + + + + +VI + +HIS COMRADE'S STORY + +Foster spent the most part of the next day in the open air with his +host. Featherstone had a quiet, genial manner and seemed to have read +much, though he held the narrow views that sometimes mark the +untraveled Englishman. He appeared to be scrupulously just and showed +sound judgment about matters he understood, but he had strong +prejudices and Foster did not think him clever. With his rather +sensitive pride and fastidiousness he was certainly not the man to make +his mark in Canada, and Foster began to understand certain traits of +his comrade's that had puzzled him. Lawrence, although he had keener +intelligence, was not quite so fine a type as his father, and in +consequence stood rough wear better. But he too, in spite of his +physical courage, now and then showed a supine carelessness and tried +to avoid, instead of boldly grappling with, things that jarred. + +They set out to go shooting, but Featherstone stopped to talk to +everybody they met, and showed keen interest in such matters as the +turnip crop and the price of sheep. It was clear that he was liked and +respected. Sometimes he turned aside to examine tottering gates and +blocked ditches, and commented to Foster upon the economics of farming +and the burden of taxes. The latter soon gathered that there was not +much profit to be derived from a small moorland estate and his host was +far from rich. It looked as if it had cost him, and perhaps his +family, some self-denial to send the money that had once or twice +enabled Lawrence, and Foster with him, to weather a crisis. + +At noon they were given a better lunch than Foster had often been +satisfied with at a lonely farm, where Featherstone spoke of him as his +son's partner, and seemed to take an ingenuous pride in making it known +that Lawrence was prospering. This gave Foster a hint that he acted on +later. They, however, shot a brace of partridges in a turnip field, a +widgeon that rose from a reedy tarn, and a woodcock that sprang out of +a holly thicket in a bog. It was a day of gleams of sunlight, passing +showers, and mist that rolled about the hills and swept away, leaving +the long slopes in transient brightness, checkered with the green of +mosses and the red of withered fern. The sky cleared as they turned +homewards, and when they reached the Garth an angry crimson glow spread +across the west. + +Tea was brought them in the hall and Foster, who had changed his +clothes, which was a rare luxury in Canada, sat with much content in a +corner by the hearth. He had been out in the raw wind long enough to +enjoy the rest and warmth, and the presence of two English ladies added +to the charm. Mrs. Featherstone was knitting, but Alice talked to her +father about the shooting and what he had noted on the farms. Foster +thought her cleverer than the others, but it was obvious that her +interest was not forced. She understood agriculture and her remarks +were singularly shrewd. + +In a sense, this was puzzling, for she had, in an extra degree, the +fastidious refinement that marked the rest, and with it a touch of +quiet haughtiness. Although she often smiled, she was characterized by +a restful calm, and her glance was steady and level. Alice was tall, +with unusually regular features, brown eyes, and brown hair, but Foster +could not analyze her charm, which was somehow strengthened by a hint +of reserve. He was in the glow of the fire, and imagined that she once +or twice gave him a glance of thoughtful scrutiny. + +The room was getting dim, but lights had not been brought, and the red +glow outside filled the large oblong of the casement window. Dark fir +branches cut against the lurid color and Foster, looking out, saw the +radiance strike through the straight rows of trunks. + +"Something like Ontario, isn't it?" said Featherstone, indicating the +trees. + +"Yes, in a way, but there's a difference," Foster replied. "In eastern +Manitoba and Ontario the bush is choked and tangled, and runs nearly +eight hundred miles. The small pines are half burned in places; in +others they're wrecked and rotten, and lean across each other as if +they were drunk. Then you can travel all day without finding an +opening, unless it's a lonely lake or a river tumbling among the rocks." + +"It sounds depressing," Mrs. Featherstone remarked. "We must hope you +will find your stay here a pleasant change." + +"The curious thing is that it doesn't feel strange. All I've seen so +far, including the Garth, seems familiar." + +"But perhaps that isn't remarkable. You are English and were, I dare +say, brought up in the country and used to our mode of life." + +Foster saw Alice glance at him and felt he must be frank. + +"No," he said, "my life in England was different from yours. It was +spent in monotonous work, and when I went home at night to a shabby +room in a street of small dingy houses it was too late, and I was often +too dejected, to think of amusements. Twice I spent a glorious ten +days among the hills, but that was all I saw of England unspoiled by +tramway lines and smoke, and the holidays cost a good deal of +self-denial. Railway fares were a serious obstacle." + +Alice smiled, but he thought the look she gave him hinted at approval. + +"Self-denial isn't so unusual as you seem to think. We know something +about it at the Garth." + +"But you sent my partner money when he needed it," Foster answered, +wondering how far he could go. "The last time it was a large amount +and helped us to turn an awkward corner. In fact, we should have gone +under for a time if it hadn't come, and I remember feeling that I owed +much to friends I might never see, because I shared the benefit with +your brother. In its Western sense, partner means more than a business +associate." + +"That is obvious," Alice rejoined quietly, but with meaning. + +"The main thing is that the money seems to have been well spent," +Featherstone interposed. "For all that, we don't know much about what +Lawrence did with it or, indeed, about his life in Canada." + +"It's curious that one gets out of the way of writing home in the West, +and it's often difficult to give one's friends a clear idea of how one +lives. Things are different------" + +Mrs. Featherstone smiled, and Foster saw that his wish to make excuses +for his comrade's negligence was understood. Featherstone, however, +was franker than he expected. + +"There were good reasons for Lawrence's not writing home and they made +it awkward for us to write to him for a time. You can now tell us what +he has done in Canada. We want to know." + +Foster began with some hesitation by relating how he had first met his +comrade in the churned-up mud outside a logging camp after a dispute +with the bullying manager. The men were beaten, but Lawrence and two +or three more from the river-gang would not give in, and started in the +rain, without blankets and with very little food, which a sympathetic +cook stole for them, on a long march to the nearest settlement. There +they took a contract for clearing land, and Foster described how they +lived in a rude bark shack while they felled the trees and piled them +up for burning. It was strenuous work, and having been unable to +collect their wages from the lumber firm, the clothes they could not +replace went to pieces and they slept, for the most part, in the wet +rags they wore by day. But they held out until the work was done and +paid for. Foster tried to do his comrade justice and thought he had +not exaggerated, for Lawrence's philosophic good humor had encouraged +the rest and smoothed over difficulties that threatened to break up the +gang. + +Then he stopped and glanced at the others, wondering whether he had +said too much and had drawn a picture they shrank from contemplating. +Alice's eyes were steadily fixed on him. Mrs. Featherstone looked +grave, but there was a hint of proud satisfaction in her husband's +face. Somewhat to his surprise, Foster saw that he had not jarred or +bored them. + +"You made good; I believe that's the proper phrase," said Featherstone. +"Go on, please." + +Foster did so. His adventures had not appeared remarkable when they +happened, and he did not think himself much of a story-teller, but he +meant to do his best, for his partner's sake. It would be something if +he could show Lawrence's people the courage and cheerfulness with which +he had faced his troubles. Still, he thought it better to vary the +theme, and related how they engaged themselves as salesmen at a +department store, where Lawrence rashly undertook to serve the drugs +and prescribed for confiding customers until a mistake that might have +had disastrous consequences led to his being fired. Foster went with +him, and they next undertook to cook, without any useful knowledge of +the art, for a railroad construction gang. Their incompetence became +obvious when Lawrence attempted to save labor by putting a week's +supply of desiccated apples to soak at once, with the consequence that +the floor of the caboose was covered with swollen fruit that had forced +itself out of the pot. One of the gang, who went in to steal some +fried pork, declared that the blamed apples chased him down the steps. + +Featherstone's chuckle was encouraging, but Foster glanced at Alice and +thought he read another emotion than amusement in her sparkling eyes. +It was now nearly dark, but the glow of the fire touched the others' +faces and nobody seemed to think of ringing for lights. + +He went on to describe their retreat in winter from a worthless mineral +claim, where they had remained until the snow surprised them when their +food was nearly gone. Eight or nine miles a day was the most they +could drag their hand-sledge through the tangled bush, and Foster got +his foot frozen through sleeping in wet boots. The frozen part galled +into a wound, but with provisions running out they could not stop to +rest. The tent and half their blankets had to be thrown away and +Lawrence hauled him on the sledge over rocks and fallen logs, with the +temperature at forty degrees below, until they reached a frozen river, +down which he struggled against a savage wind. + +Then came a profitable contract, which Lawrence obtained against keen +opposition, for supplying telephone posts, and Foster was surprised to +find that the description of their efforts to get the logs out of a +rugged wilderness made a stirring tale. Although he paused once or +twice apologetically, the others made him resume, and he began to wish +he was not in the firelight when he saw that Alice was quietly studying +him. It was his partner's story he meant to tell, but since they were +together he could not leave himself out. + +He could, however, change the scene, and skipping much, came to their +start as general contractors at Gardner's Crossing. The Hulton +Company, which was not so large then, gave them work, but they were +hampered by want of capital, and had to meet the competition of richer +and sometimes unscrupulous antagonists. Still they made progress; +staking all they had on the chance of carrying out risky work that +others would not touch, sometimes testing the patience of creditors, +and now and then outwitting a rival by an ingenious ruse. Lawrence +lived in the single-room office, cooking for himself on an oil-stove, +while Foster camped with their men where they were at work. + +Then they built the sawmill with the help of Lawrence's check from +home, and soon afterwards met with their worst reverse. They had +engaged to supply the Hulton Company with lumber of a certain kind for +some special work, and then found that few of the trees they required +grew near the river. This meant that a skidway must be made over a +very rough hill and a gasolene winding engine bought or hired to haul +the logs out of the next valley. There was, however, another fir +easily accessible that might suit the purpose, but not quite as well, +and Foster related how he and his partner sat up late one night, +calculating costs and wondering whether they should pay Hulton a fine +to break the bargain. He added naively that they were some time +arguing if they should substitute the inferior wood. + +"Whose opinion was it that you should supply the exact material you had +promised?" Featherstone asked. + +"Well," said Foster, "Lawrence said so first, but I think we both meant +to let them have the best." + +Featherstone's glance at his wife indicated relief, but something in +Alice's face showed that she had known what Foster's reply would be. +She had listened with keen interest, and he stopped, half amused and +half embarrassed. Perhaps he had talked too much, and while he meant +to do Lawrence justice, he did not want to play the part of the +indomitable pioneer for the girl's benefit. Moreover, he knew she +would detect, and despise him for, any attempt to do so, and as he +valued her good opinion, it was not modesty alone that led him to make +Lawrence the hero of the piece. + +"So you stuck to your bargain!" Featherstone remarked. "Tell us how +you carried it out." + +Foster forgot himself and the others as he continued, for he had a +vivid memory of the struggle. He took charge of the work in the woods, +while Lawrence tactfully pressed for payment of outstanding accounts, +put off creditors, and somehow provided money for wages. As extra +gangs had to be hired, Foster owned that he did not know how the thing +was done. He cut a grade for the skidway up the hill, slashing tangled +bush and blasting rocks, worked in the snow by moonlight long after his +men stopped, and afterwards learned that Lawrence often went without a +meal when pay-day got near. But they hauled out the logs and the +lumber was delivered. When he stopped, Featherstone looked up with +some color in his face. + +"Thank you," he said. "It is a moving tale. The money we sent you was +well spent. I could have expected nothing better of my son. But I +suppose you found it paid to keep your promise." + +"In this case, it did," Foster answered with a smile. "Hulton's gave +us the first chance of any work they did not care to do themselves; you +see, we had put in a few wood-working machines. In fact, after a time, +Hulton told Lawrence to walk through the factory now and then and send +in anything the heads of departments required. But I've talked long +enough and fear you're bored." + +"No," said Featherstone simply, "you have given us great pleasure and +made us realize the bracing life my son is leading. You could have +done us no favor that would equal this." + +Then he took Foster off to the gun-room, where they smoked and talked +about the day's shooting, until Featherstone said rather abruptly, +"Perhaps I had better tell you that I didn't send Lawrence the check +that enabled you to build the mill. It was not in my power to do so +then." + +"But he said the money came from home." + +"It did. Alice was left a small legacy and insisted on selling the +shares it consisted of in order to help her brother. I must confess +that I thought she was rash, but the money was hers. Now it is obvious +that the sacrifice she made was justified." + +Featherstone began to talk about something else, but Foster felt +embarrassed. It looked as if he owed his success in business to the +girl's generosity, and although he could not see why this should +disturb him, it did. + +He went down to dinner rather early and found Alice in the hall. There +was nobody else about, and by the way she looked up as he advanced he +thought she had been waiting for him. Alice had beauty, but it was her +proud reserve he felt most. She did not give her friendship lightly, +but he believed it was worth winning. + +"I wanted to thank you for explaining things so well," she said. "It's +the first time we have really learned much about my brother's life in +Canada." + +Foster hesitated, "I felt that you wanted to know. But, in a way, it +must have sounded rather egotistical. In fact, the thing wasn't as +easy as you perhaps think." + +Alice smiled. "You couldn't leave yourself out, although it was +obvious that you meant to give my brother the leading part." + +"I honestly don't think I exaggerated." + +"No," she agreed, "it sounded real, and there were touches, little +personal characteristics, you couldn't have imagined. You see, I am +younger than Lawrence and thought him something of a romantic hero +before he left home." Then she paused for a moment. "I got a very bad +shock when he was forced to go. You know why he went?" + +"I don't; I've sometimes thought he wanted to tell me." + +"Then you never asked?" + +"I did not; I think I didn't want to know." + +She gave him a steady searching glance and he felt that if he had been +insincere she would have found out. + +"But you knew there was something wrong. If he had injured somebody in +England, he might have injured you. What made you so trustful?" + +"Your brother himself. Then he was, so to speak, my benefactor. If he +hadn't taken me up, I might have been chopping trees in the snow, +instead of enjoying a holiday in England and, to emphasize the +contrast, staying at a house like this." + +"It doesn't follow; you might have found another opportunity. The +point is that you did trust Lawrence." + +Foster disliked sentiment and knew that if he struck a false note it +would jar. + +"Well," he said, "I don't claim that I'm a judge of character, but one +can't make progress in Canada and be a fool. We had gone hungry in the +bush together, and hauled the hand-sledge across the snow, when it was +very doubtful if we'd make the settlements. Perhaps there isn't a +better way of testing a partner than that. Then a man starts fair in +the new countries, and one feels that this is right. He may have given +way once to some strong temptation and go the straighter for it +afterwards." + +Alice looked at him with a curious gleam in her eyes that made his +heart beat. + +"It was a very strong temptation," she said quietly and stopped as Mrs. +Featherstone came in. + + + + +VII + +THE PACKET + +When he had been a few days at the Garth, Foster thought he had better +take Carmen's packet to Edinburgh. She had said nothing about its +being urgent and he did not want to go, but he must keep his promise +and would afterwards be at liberty. Mrs. Featherstone had given him to +understand that he was to make the Garth his headquarters as long as he +stayed in England, and he looked forward to doing so with much content. +The more he saw of his hosts, the better he liked them, and it was a +privilege to enjoy Alice Featherstone's friendship. She had, of +course, given it him for her brother's sake, but he must try to keep it +on his merits. + +Since he had seen Alice he began to understand Carmen better. Carmen +had charm and knew how to use it to her advantage, while he could not +imagine Alice's employing her beauty to gain an object. She was proud, +with an essentially clean pride, and sincere, while Carmen had a talent +for intrigue. The latter enjoyed using her cleverness to put down a +rival or secure a prominent place; she was a hustler, as they said in +the West. Alice, he thought, would not even claim what was hers; it +must be willingly offered or she would let it go. Yet he knew she +would be a staunch and generous friend to anybody who gained her +confidence. + +This kind of comparison, however, was profitless and perhaps in bad +taste. After all, he was a friend of Carmen's and must do her errand. +He left the Garth next morning, and Featherstone, who made him promise +to come back as soon as possible, drove him across the moors to a small +station on the North British line, where he caught an Edinburgh train. + +When they ran out of the hills at Hawick, rain was falling and the +valley filled with smoky haze, through which loomed factories and +chimney stacks. The station was crowded, and Foster gathered from the +talk of the people who got in that a big wool sale was going on and the +townsfolk who were not at the auction made it a holiday. His +compartment was full, but looking through the window he saw a +fashionably dressed girl hurrying along the platform with a porter. +They tried one or two carriages, in which there seemed to be no room, +and the guard had blown his whistle when they came abreast of Foster's +compartment. Opening the door as the train began to move, he held out +his hand and pulled the girl in. + +"My bag; it mustn't be left!" she cried, trying to get back to the +door, but Foster caught the bag as the porter held it up and put it on +the rack. + +"There's a seat in the corner," he said and went into the corridor. + +When they stopped at Galashiels a number of people got out, and he +returned to the compartment. It was now unoccupied except by an old +man and the girl he had helped, who gave him a grateful smile. + +"I hadn't time to thank you, but I should have missed the train if you +had not been prompt," she said. + +Foster did not know if Scottish etiquette warranted anything more than +a conventional reply, but he ventured to remark: "You certainly seemed +to have cut things rather fine." + +"I had to drive some distance and the hill roads were bad; then when we +got to the town the streets were crowded." + +"That would be sae," the old man agreed. "Hawick's gey thrang at the +wool sales when the yarn trade is guid." + +Foster liked to talk to strangers and as the girl had not rebuffed him, +he took her cloak, which looked very wet, from the rack. + +"Perhaps I'd better shake this in the corridor and then we can hang it +up," he said. + +She allowed him to do so and the old man remarked: + +"Guid gear's worth the saving, and I was thinking it would be nane the +waur o' a bit shake, but if ye had leeved to my age among the mosses, +ye'd no' find yereself sae soople." + +"Any kind of gear's worth taking care of." + +"That's true," agreed the other. "A verra praise-worthy sentiment, if +ye practice it. But I wouldna' say ye were a Scot." + +"In a sense, I'm a Canadian, but from what I've seen of the Ontario +Scots the difference isn't very marked. Anyhow, they don't buy new +material until the old's worn out." + +The man chuckled, but Foster thought the girl looked interested. + +"Then you come from Canada," she said. "Do you know any of the Ontario +cities?" + +"I have been in Toronto, but I know the small towns near the Manitoba +border best. In fact, I left an ambitious place called Gardner's +Crossing about fourteen days ago." + +From the quick glance she gave him he imagined that she had heard of +the town, but she said, "I have some friends in Ontario and understand +that they have had what they call a set-back there. Did this extend to +the neighborhood you came from?" + +Foster told her something about the development of the lumber trade and +mining, but although he had hardly expected her to be interested he +thought she was, and the old man's shrewd remarks helped the +conversation along. + +"Isn't the Crossing where the big factory is? I forget the name of +it," she asked by and by. + +"Hulton's," said Foster, and afterwards thought she tactfully +encouraged him to talk about the manufacturing firm, although he did +not mention Fred Hulton's death. Her manner, however, was quite +correct; he had been of some small help, which warranted her conversing +with him to pass the time. That was all, and when their companion got +out and she opened a book he went to the smoking-compartment. + +When he left the train at the Waverley station he saw her on the +platform and she gave him a slight bow, but he understood that their +acquaintance ended there and was content. After lunch he walked along, +Princes Street and back to the castle. The sky was clear, the sun +shone on the old tall houses, and a nipping north-easter blew across +the Forth. In spite of its age and modern industry, the town looked +strangely clean and cold. No smoke could hang about it in the nipping +wind; its prevailing color was granite-gray. The Forth was a streak of +raw indigo, and the hills all round were steely blue. Edinburgh was +like no English town; it had an austere half-classical beauty that was +peculiar to itself; perhaps Quebec, though different, resembled it most +of all the cities he had seen. + +Then he remembered Carmen's packet, and after asking a passer-by took a +tram-car that carried him through the southern quarter of the town into +a wide road, lined by well-built stone houses. Standing in small, neat +gardens, they ran back to the open country, with a bold ridge of moors +in the distance. Foster got down where he was directed and crossed the +road to one of the houses. They were all much alike and he thought +hinted at the character of their occupants. One would expect to find +the people who lived there prosperous citizens with sober, conventional +habits. + +He went up a short, tiled path and rang the bell. A smart maid-servant +showed him into a small, morning-room, where everything was very neat, +and after a few moments a man came in. He was the kind of man Foster +had expected to find in such a house, well-dressed, with polite but +rather formal manners, and Foster briefly stated his business. He +thought the man looked at him sharply, but it was about four o'clock in +the afternoon and the light was not good. + +"Mr. Graham does not live here now; he left a week or two ago," he +said. "Do you know him personally?" + +"No," said Foster. "Miss Austin asked me to give him the packet." + +"Then you know Mr. Austin." + +"In a way," said Foster, smiling. "We speak when we meet on the +street, but don't get much further. In fact, Austin's a business rival +of mine." + +The man seemed to ponder for a moment or two. Then he said, "I gather +that you want to deliver the packet, not to post it?" + +"That's so. I don't know if it matters much, but I'd like to put it in +Graham's hands." + +"Very well. He's gone to Newcastle, but I have his address somewhere. +If you will wait a minute or two, I'll look." + +He took the packet, as if he meant to write the address on it, and +Foster sat down. The door of the room was half open and while he +waited somebody entered the house. Steps came along the hall, and a +girl pushed the door back, and then stopped, looking at him in +surprise. He understood this as he saw she was the girl he had helped +into the train. + +"I didn't know you were coming here," she said. + +"Nor did I, in a sense," Foster answered with a smile. "I mean I +didn't know it was your house." + +"My name was on the label of the bag and rather conspicuous." + +"It would have meant nothing if I had seen it. In fact, I must own I +don't know it now." + +The girl looked puzzled, and Foster explained that he had come with a +packet, but had merely been given Graham's name and the number of the +house. He added that he had found he must look for the man in +Newcastle. + +"Then you are a friend of Mr. Austin's?" she said. + +Foster thought it strange that she had not told him she knew Austin +when she asked about the Crossing, but he replied: "I'm a friend of +Miss Austin's." + +"Ah!" she said thoughtfully; "do you mind explaining what you mean by +that?" + +"Perhaps it's hardly worth while, but I can't claim that Austin and I +are particularly friendly. Our business interests sometimes clash." + +She was silent for a few moments, and he wondered why both she and the +man had been curious to know how far his acquaintance with Austin went. +Then she looked up with a quick movement. "Newcastle is not a charming +town, and if you have no other reason for going there, it might be +better to post the packet." + +Foster was somewhat puzzled. She had spoken meaningly, as if she meant +to give him a hint. + +"The trouble is that I promised Miss Austin to deliver it." + +"You have brought it to England," she persisted. "It will be safe in +the post------" + +She stopped with a glance at the door, and Foster heard a step in the +passage. Then she quietly turned to the man who had taken the packet. + +"I would have missed the train at Hawick but for this gentleman's +help," she said. "Still, I did not know he was coming here until I saw +him as I passed the door." + +The other, who had looked at her rather sharply, nodded and gave Foster +the packet. + +"As there was room enough, I wrote the new address on the cover." + +Foster thanked him and took his leave, but as the man went before him +to the door the girl made a sign. + +"Post it," she whispered and turned back into the room. + +After leaving the house Foster walked along the road in a thoughtful +mood. The girl was apparently the man's daughter or niece. Their +relative ages warranted the surmise, and her quick explanation of how +she came to be talking to a stranger indicated that she recognized his +authority, while Foster thought she had been disturbed when she heard +his step. It was strange that she should urge him to post the packet, +and he would sooner have done so, but it was not a long journey to +Newcastle and he must keep his promise. Then he saw a tram-car coming +and dismissed the matter. + +Going back to his hotel, he found there was an evening train and +decided to leave by it. Edinburgh had attractions, but he could come +back and was anxious to get rid of the packet, moreover he grudged the +time he spent away from the Garth. There were not many passengers at +the station and he found an empty compartment, where he read a +newspaper until he got tired and lifting a corner of the blind looked +out. Here and there a light rushed back through the darkness and +vanished as the express sped south with a smoothness that was a +contrast to the jolting he had been used to in Canada. Indeed, except +for the roar when they ran across a bridge and the confused flashing +past of lamps as they swept through a station, he could hardly have +imagined himself on board a train. There was, however, not much to be +seen, and he took out the packet. + +It looked somewhat bulkier and he examined it carefully, but the cover +did not seem to have been removed. It could not have been replaced by +another, because the original address was there and he knew Carmen's +hand; then there was a seal, which he did not think could have been +tampered with. Besides, the man had only had it for a minute or two, +and if he had opened it, would probably have taken something out +instead of putting something in. Foster decided that he was mistaken +about its size and returned it to his pocket. + +Then he wanted a cigarette and took out the case he had got in the fur +coat. Since he had left the coat in Montreal, the case was the only +record of his adventure on the train, and he wondered whether he would +ever be able to restore it to its owner and speculated languidly about +the man. As the latter knew his name, it was strange that he had not +communicated with him at the Windsor, as he had promised. He had +obviously not been attacked, because there had been nothing about it in +the Canadian newspapers. The thing was puzzling, but after all it did +not concern Foster much and he thought about something else. + +It was late when he arrived at Newcastle and went to an hotel. There +was fog and rain next morning, and he saw very little of the town, +which seemed filled with smoke. Taking a tram-car that carried him +past rows of dingy buildings and shops where lights twinkled, he got +out at the corner of a narrow street that ran back into the haze. +After looking at the address on the packet, he plunged into the gloom +beside a row of tall, sooty buildings. There was no pavement, and here +and there a cart stood beneath an opening in the wall. The buildings +were apparently warehouses, but some of the doors had brass plates and +lights shone in the upper windows. By and by he found the number he +wanted and entered a dirty arch, inside which a few names were painted +on the wall. Graham's was not there, but he went up the steps to +inquire at the first office he reached. + +The lower stories were used as a warehouse and he came to the top +landing before he saw a name that seemed to be Danish or Scandinavian +painted on a door. Going in, he knocked on the counter. The office +was small and shabby and smelt of bacon, which he thought indicated +that its occupant dealt in provisions, but he could not see much +because of a glass partition. When he was getting impatient, an old +man came to the counter. + +"Can you tell me if there's a Mr. Graham in this building?" Foster +asked. + +"Yes, he's here," said the other. "What do you want?" + +Foster said he had brought a packet from Canada, and the old man, who +looked rather hard at him, lifted a flap in the counter and told him to +pass through. A door in the partition opened as he advanced and +another man beckoned him to come in. It looked as if the latter had +heard what had passed, but this saved an explanation and Foster, who +asked if he was Graham, put the packet on a table. There was not much +else in the small, dusty room, except a cupboard fitted with +pigeon-holes, a desk, and a safe. + +"This is from Miss Austin of Gardner's Crossing," he remarked. + +Graham glanced at the packet carelessly, as if he did not consider it +of much importance, and Foster felt puzzled. The fellow was not as old +as Carmen's father, but Foster thought there was nothing about him that +would attract a girl used to admiration, as Carmen was. He was +certainly not handsome and had, on the whole, a commonplace look, while +he was obviously in a small way of business. + +"Thank you," he said. "It seems you have been to Edinburgh. We had a +branch there, but closed it recently. Newcastle has more facilities +for importing our goods. I'm afraid you have been put to some trouble." + +Foster replied that he did not mind this, since he had promised Miss +Austin to bring the packet and she was a friend of his, but although he +studied the man's face saw nothing to indicate that he was interested. + +"Are you staying here?" he asked, and when Foster told him that he was +going back as soon as he could, resumed: "If you had been staying, I +would have been glad to take you about the town; but, after all, +there's nothing much in the way of amusement going on. I might arrange +to meet you in the afternoon, but must now finish some letters for the +Continental mail." + +Foster said he could not wait and went out, feeling that the other was +pleased to get rid of him. Graham was obviously a small importer of +provisions, and he could not see why the girl in Edinburgh had warned +him to post the packet. Carmen's reason for sending such a man +something she valued was impossible to discern. + +This, however, was not Foster's business, and after lunch he caught a +train to Hexham and, finding he could get no farther, spent the night +in the old Border town. + + + + +VIII + +AN OFFER OF HELP + +It rained and the light was going when Foster sat in a window seat of +the library at the Garth. He was alone, but did not mind this. The +Featherstones treated him as one of the family; he was free to do what +he liked, and Alice had just gone away, after talking to him for half +an hour. Lighting a cigarette, he mused and looked about. + +Outside, the firs rose, black and dripping, above the wet drive. +Between their trunks he saw the river, stained with peat, brawling +among the stones, and the streaks of foam that stretched across a +coffee-colored pool. Then a few boggy fields ran back into the mist +that hung about the hills. A red fire threw a soft glow about the +library. The room was somewhat shabby but spacious. Rows of old books +in stained bindings, which Foster thought nobody read, faded into the +gloom at its other end. It was warm and quiet, and he found it a +comfortable retreat. + +He had now been a fortnight at the Garth and did not want to leave. +Featherstone and his wife obviously wished him to stay; he was grateful +for the welcome they had given him, and felt as if he belonged to the +place. What Alice thought was not clear, but she treated him with a +quiet friendliness that he found singularly pleasant. By and by he +began to wonder why Lawrence had not written, particularly as he had +brought away a bag of his. Foster had one like it, and as both had its +owner's initials stamped outside, he imagined the baggage agent had +been deceived by the F when he affixed the check. Lawrence's bag, +however, had his name engraved upon the lock. + +Foster sat down in a big chair by the fire, and imagined he fell +asleep, because it had got nearly dark without his noticing it when the +opening of the door roused him. Looking up, he saw Featherstone come +in with a letter in his hand. The post did not arrive until the +afternoon. + +"Ah!" he said, "you have heard from Lawrence." + +"No, but the letter is about him," Featherstone replied, and sitting +down opposite, was silent for a few moments. His pose was slack and he +looked as if he had got a shock. + +"I don't see how you can help, but perhaps you had better know how +matters are," he resumed and gave the letter to Foster. + +It was short, but Foster, who was surprised and disturbed, understood +his host's alarm. Daly had written from Hexham, asking, or rather +summoning, Featherstone to meet him there next day, although he stated +that if this was impossible, he would arrive at the Garth in the +evening. There was a threat in the intimation that it would be to +Lawrence's advantage if Featherstone saw him soon. + +"Well," said Foster dryly, "it looks as if our plot had succeeded +better than we thought. We certainly didn't expect the fellow would +follow me to England." + +Featherstone did not seem to understand, and Foster remembered that, +with the object of saving him anxiety, he had said nothing about Daly's +having extorted money from Lawrence in Canada. He now explained the +situation in as few words as possible. + +"But Lawrence ought to have told me!" Featherstone exclaimed. + +"I don't know that it would have been of much use. You see, Lawrence +meant to put Daly off the track, and if he failed in this, to fight. +When I heard of it, I quite agreed." + +"But he can't fight," Featherstone objected in a strained voice. "I'd +have urged him to do so, if it had been possible. We're not cowards." + +"Why is it impossible?" + +"Don't you know?" Featherstone asked with some surprise. + +"I know my partner's in trouble; that's all." + +Featherstone hesitated, as if he wanted to take the other into his +confidence, but shrank from doing so. Then he said with forced +quietness: "If this rogue knows as much as I suspect, he can get my son +arrested." + +"On a serious charge? I don't ask what it is." + +"It would mean a long imprisonment, to say nothing of the humiliation," +Featherstone answered brokenly, and was silent for a minute with the +firelight on his tense face. Then he went on with an effort: "I must +tell you what I can. Lawrence in a desperate moment injured, I had +better call it robbed, a relative of ours. The boy had got into +difficulties, but hitherto, although he had been a fool, there was a +certain generosity in his rashness. He was very hard pressed--I have +seen that since--but I can make no excuse for what he did." + +"He made good afterwards," Foster interposed. + +"We tried to think so, but it looks as if one can't make good. The +punishment for a wrong done, or consented to, must be borne. Well, +when I learned the truth I went to the man my son had robbed and +offered to repay him. He said he would take no money, for reasons that +I ought to grasp, and sent me away afraid, because I knew he was hard +and very just." + +Featherstone paused, and Foster, who murmured a few words of awkward +sympathy, waited until he resumed; "I am a magistrate, pledged to do my +duty, but I helped my boy to escape, and the man I was afraid of did +nothing, though he knew. After a time, I went to him again, and he +gave me to understand that he would not interfere so long as Lawrence +stayed away, but must be free to take the proper line if he came back. +It's plain now that he knew my son's faults and meant to give him the +chance of overcoming them by hard work in Canada. At last, when he was +very ill, he sent for me and said I could let Lawrence know he was +forgiven." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "now I understand what my partner meant." + +"This was not long before you came," Featherstone continued. "It was a +wonderful relief to know the danger was over, and then you told us how +Lawrence had grown out of his folly and become a useful man. Although +we longed to see him, our satisfaction was complete. Now this letter +comes, and I fear my wife is unable to bear the strain again." + +Foster was moved by his distress. Featherstone was proud and +honorable, and it must have cost him much to help his son to steal +away. Indeed, Foster thought what he had done then would always +trouble him, and after all it had proved useless. The worst was that +his sensitive uprightness might make him an easy victim of the +unscrupulous adventurer. But Foster did not mean him to be victimized. +As a rule, he was rather humorous than dramatic, but he got up and +stood with his hands clenched. + +"This thing touches us both, sir. Lawrence is your son, but he's my +friend, and I've got to see him through, which warrants my giving you +the best advice I can. Very well, you must show a bold front to Daly; +to begin with you can't go to Hexham." + +Featherstone gave him a grateful glance. He felt dejected and +desperate, but Foster looked comfortingly resolute. At first he had +welcomed him for his son's sake, but had come to like him for himself. + +"No," he agreed. "I can't go; but that doesn't help us; because he'll +come here." + +"Yes; he must be met. But do you know how he came to learn about the +matter?" + +"I don't, but my relative, who was interested in politics and social +schemes, had a secretary. I can't remember his name, but this might be +the fellow." + +"Then it's curious he didn't get on Lawrence's track before. Anyway, +he must be met with the bluff direct now." + +"How can he be bluffed?" Featherstone asked with a hopeless gesture. +"He can have my son arrested if I don't agree to his demands." + +"He would first have to tell the police all he knew, and as soon as he +did this his hold on you would be gone. Then they'd ask why he'd kept +the secret, which would be remarkably hard to answer, although he might +perhaps take the risk out of malice if he saw you meant to be firm. +For all that, you must be firm; you can't buy him off. He'd come back +later with a fresh demand. Would your estate stand the strain?" + +"My wife and daughter would make any sacrifice for Lawrence's sake." + +"The sacrifice would benefit this bloodsucker, which is a different +thing," Foster rejoined. "Then, even if you impoverished your family, +you'd only put off the reckoning, which would come when the fellow had +taken all you'd got. In short, he must be bluffed off now." + +He sat down and pondered and there was silence for some minutes. It +had got dark and he heard the steady patter of the rain. He knew he +had undertaken a difficult task, and felt daunted because he could not +see his way. Still, it looked as if the happiness of these charming +people, and perhaps his partner's future, depended upon him. If that +were so, he must not fail them. + +"Well," he said by and by, "my opinion is that Daly thinks Lawrence is +here, so to speak within his reach, which must be a strong +encouragement. If he learns the truth, he'll, no doubt, go back to +Canada and get on his track. I'd like to set him searching up and down +Great Britain. There would be something amusing in his wasting his +time and money, but at present I don't see how it could be done. +However, we have until to-morrow to think of a plan." + +Featherstone left him soon afterwards and he stayed in the library +until dinner, which was a melancholy function. It was necessary to +appear undisturbed while the servants were about, and he envied his +friends' fine self-control. These people had courage and when they +talked carelessly about things of no importance he did his best to play +up. Still, although they sometimes laughed, their amusement sounded +forced, there was a curious feeling of tension, and he thought Mrs. +Featherstone once or twice showed signs of strain. + +When the meal was over he made an excuse for leaving them alone, but +some time afterwards Alice came into the hall, where he sat quietly +thinking. She was calm, but he saw she had heard about the threatened +danger. He got up as she advanced, but she beckoned him to sit down. + +"My father has told me about the letter, and I understand you know," +she said. + +"I wish I knew what ought to be done! It's an awkward matter. To tell +the truth, it bothers me." + +Alice sat down, shielding her face from the fire with her hand. + +"You mean you feel you ought to put it right?" + +"Something of the kind," said Foster, forcing a smile, "In a sense, of +course, that's presumptuous; but then, you see, I'm in your brother's +debt." + +"You like to pay your debts," Alice remarked, fixing a level glance on +him. + +"When I can; but that's not all. I'm not in Lawrence's debt alone," +Foster answered with some diffidence. "I came over here, a stranger, +ignorant of your ideas and customs, and you made me welcome. Of +course, if I had jarred you, you wouldn't have let me know; but there +are degrees of hospitality." + +Alice smiled. "You needn't labor your excuses for wanting to help us, +and you are not a stranger now. You must have understood this when my +father showed you the letter." + +"Thank you," Foster replied with feeling, and was silent for the next +few moments. Alice, who was proud and reserved, trusted him, and he +must somehow justify her confidence. He had a vague plan in his mind, +but it needed working out. + +"But we must be practical," she resumed. "Can you help? You must see +that there is nobody else who can." + +Foster made a sign of agreement, for it was plain that Featherstone +could not tell his friends about his trouble. + +"I begin to think I might; but although I haven't quite made my plans +yet, I see some danger. Would you take a risk for your brother's sake?" + +The girl's eyes sparkled, and he saw that she had Lawrence's reckless +courage. He had heard his partner laugh when they faced starvation on +the frozen trail. + +"I would take any risk to save him or punish the blackmailer." + +"Very well. I rather think your father will leave things to me, and I +have a half-formed plan. There ought to be some humor in the plot, if +I can work it out. Daly's plainly convinced that your brother's here, +and I don't see why he shouldn't be encouraged to stick to his opinion. +In fact, the longer he looks for Lawrence, the more amusing the thing +will get. Of course, he may turn spiteful when he finds he has been +tricked, but he, no doubt, means to do all the harm he can already. +However, you must give me until tomorrow." + +Alice got up and when he rose said quietly, but with something in her +voice that thrilled him: "I think you like my mother and she knows I +meant to talk to you. Lawrence is very dear to her and if he were +dragged back into disgrace, now when we thought it was all forgotten +and he has made a new start in Canada, I am not sure she could bear the +shock. There is nobody else who could help us and we trust to you." + +"Then I must try to deserve it," Foster answered with a bow. "But what +about your old servant, John? Have you much confidence in him?" + +The girl's tense face relaxed. "In a sense, John is one of the family, +but if you want his help, you must use some tact and not expect Western +frankness. He is remarkably discreet." + +Foster opened the door for her, and then went to the gun-room, where he +found John, who had driven him from the station when he arrived, +pouring out some Rangoon oil. Sitting down carelessly, he lighted a +cigarette. + +"I understand you were rather fond of my partner, Lawrence +Featherstone," he remarked. + +"If I may say so, sir, I was. A very likable young gentleman." + +"I expect you know he got into trouble." + +John looked pained at his bluntness. "I heard something about it, sir. +Perhaps Mr. Lawrence was a little wild. It sometimes happens in very +good families." + +"Just so," said Foster. "Would you be surprised to hear he hadn't got +out of that trouble yet?" + +"Not surprised exactly; I was afraid of something like it, sir." + +Foster knew this was as much as he would admit, but felt that he could +trust the man. + +"Very well. My partner's in some danger, and with Mr. Featherstone's +permission I must try to see him through, but may want your help. I +suppose you're willing?" + +"Yes, sir. If it's for Mr. Lawrence, you can take it that I am." + +"You can drive an automobile pretty well?" + +"Not like a professional, sir, but now we don't keep a chauffeur I +often drive to the station." + +"That's satisfactory. I may want the car to-morrow evening, but nobody +else must know about this." + +"Very good, sir," said John. "When you're ready you can give me your +instructions; they'll go no further." + +Then he dipped a rag in the oil and began to rub a gun, and Foster went +out, feeling satisfied. It was plain that he could rely upon the old +fellow, who he thought was unflinchingly loyal to the Featherstones. +After all, it was something to have the respect and affection of one's +servant. + + + + +IX + +THE FALSE TRAIL + +When Foster got up next morning he had made his plan, and spent ten +minutes explaining it to John. The old fellow understood his orders, +and although he listened with formal deference, the faint twinkle in +his eyes showed that he approved. After breakfast, Foster asked +Featherstone to come out on the terrace and while they walked about +indicated the line he thought it best to take. + +Featherstone agreed, but expressed some misgivings. "There may be +danger in putting Daly on the track, and after all I'm only delaying a +crisis that must be faced." + +"The longer it's delayed, the better; something may happen in the +meantime," Foster replied. "Then, you see, the track is false. When +the fellow finds you obstinate, he'll try to get hold of Lawrence, +particularly as he got money from him before; but as he believes +Lawrence is in England, he'll have some trouble. The advantage is that +he won't be able to bother you while all his time and energy's occupied +by following me." + +"That is possible," said Featherstone. "But you may find it difficult +to get away from the rogue, since you must give him some kind of a +clew." + +Foster laughed. "I don't mind the difficulty, sir. In fact, I +imagine, I'm going to enjoy the chase." + +"There's a point that must be thought of. If he goes to the police +when he can't find Lawrence, it would be awkward. I should be no +better off than I am now." + +"It's unlikely. So long as Daly sees the smallest chance of extorting +money he'll keep his secret. The reason's obvious." + +"Well," said Featherstone, with feeling, "you are doing us a service we +can't repay. I frankly don't like the plan, because it can only work +at your expense, but it will give us time and I can think of nothing +else." + +Foster left him with a feeling of pleasant excitement. He was doing +his host a favor and this was something, but the adventure appealed to +him for other reasons. He had, in Canada, found scope for his energy +in profitable work, but there was a reckless vein in him, and it was +exhilarating to feel that he could now follow his bent, without being +hampered by the necessity for making the undertaking pay. After all, +there was not much enjoyment in what one did for money, and he thought +he was going to get some amusement out of the game. Still, he did not +want to leave the Garth. Alice had treated him with a quiet +friendliness he valued and he began to hope he was making some progress +in her good opinion. It was, however, comforting to feel that he was +going to save her pain, and for the rest of the day he was conscious of +a cheerfulness he tried to hide in view of the anxiety the others had +to bear. + +In the evening John put Lawrence's traveling bag under a small table +near the door in the hall and arranged the cloth so that it hung over +and covered part of the bag but did not hide it altogether. He took +some trouble, and when he was satisfied it looked as if the bag had +been carelessly placed where it would be out of sight but ready to be +picked up quickly if its owner meant to leave the house in a hurry. +Moreover, if anybody thought it worth while to look under the table, +the letters L.F. could be distinguished and Lawrence's name was +engraved upon the lock. Foster, having learned from the railway guide +when Daly would arrive, had arranged that he should be left alone for a +minute or two in the hall. If the fellow made good use of the time, so +much the better. + +After putting on a gray waterproof, leggings, and strong boots, Foster +stood at the open door of his room until he heard Daly come in. There +was silence for the next minute, and then footsteps echoed along a +passage as the visitor was taken to the library, where Featherstone +would receive him, and Foster pulled out his watch. As there was no +town for some distance and Daly would not expect to be asked to stay, +he no doubt intended to return to the station across the moor, where he +could catch the last train. Allowing for the long drive, he could not +stop long at the Garth; but Foster must give Featherstone time enough. +The latter had a rather difficult part, because he must allow Daly to +state his terms, and not reject them until the last moment. He was too +honest and too proud to dissemble well, but he was not a fool and there +was much at stake. + +At length, Foster stole quietly down the stairs, and smiled as he +remarked that the cloth on the small table had been pulled aside. This +had been done cautiously, but a fold that overhung the edge was not in +quite its former position. Then he picked up the bag and went out, +making noise enough to be heard in the library as he shut the hall +door. When he went down the steps he saw the lights of the car that +had brought Daly glimmer on the wet gravel of the drive. The back of +the car was next him, for it had been turned round ready to start. +Then Featherstone's car rolled up quietly, and Foster was getting in +when he stopped and felt his heart beat as a slender figure appeared on +the terrace. He turned, with his foot on the step, and waited until +Alice came up. + +"I couldn't let you go without a last word of thanks," she said. "It +is splendid! We can't forget." + +"I believe I'm going to have an amusing trip," Foster replied. "Then, +you see, the Garth is a remarkably nice place to come back to, and +there's the pleasure of looking forward to my return. But I'm +unselfish enough to hope I won't have that satisfaction all to myself." + +Alice smiled, but there was something very friendly in her look and her +voice was unusually soft. + +"You can always be sure of your welcome and we will miss you when you +are away. I very sincerely wish you good luck." + +Foster was seldom theatrical, but felt the occasion justified his doing +something unusual. John, having already grasped the wheel, had his +back to them, and Foster took the girl's hand, which rested on the +rail, and kissed it. She made a little abrupt movement, and he thought +he saw a tinge of color in her face, but she did not look angry and he +felt a strange exultant thrill. + +"Make as much noise as you can," he said to John. + +The car backed across the rattling gravel, and the girl's figure faded +into the gloom; then John turned the wheel and they shot forward down +the drive. The lights of the other car vanished, there was a splash as +they swung into the wet road, and Foster pulled the rug around him when +he had struck a match and noted the time. + +"You needn't hurry her too much," he said. "If I catch the train by +about a minute, it is all I want." + +"Very good, sir. If I may remark, the other's a powerful car." + +"I don't think they'll try to overtake us until we're near the +station," Foster answered with a laugh. "But we can't allow it then." + +"No, sir," said John. "I quite understand." + +They ran down the valley at a moderate speed, and Foster, looking +around when they came to a straight piece of road, was not surprised to +see a gleam of light in the distance. He lost it a few moments +afterwards, but it flashed out again every now and then, until they +plunged into a thick fir wood. They were about half-way to the +station, but the light had not got much nearer. He had, however, not +expected it to do so, because he thought Daly would be satisfied if he +kept his supposititious victim in sight. The danger would arise when +they got near the station, and whether they overcame it or not depended +on John's coolness and nerve. Foster thought the man would not fail +him. + +It was a dark night and a damp haze thickened the gloom. Stone walls +and ragged thorn bushes leaped up in the glare of the lamps and faded, +but one could see nothing outside the bright beam. This was a +disadvantage, because Foster could not tell where he was and much +depended on his reaching the station with exactly the right time to +spare. He was rather anxious about it, since his plan would be spoiled +at the start if the train were late. By striking a match in the +shelter of the screen, he could see his watch, but it did not seem +prudent to distract John's attention often. + +By and by the walls vanished and withered heath, glistening with damp, +rolled past the car. They were running through a peat moss, with a +deep ditch on one side, and climbing an incline, to judge by the heavy +throb of the engine. Shallow ruts, filled with water, ran on in the +blaze ahead and showers splashed about the wheels. Outside the bright +beam the darkness was impenetrable. Foster, however, was conscious of +a pleasant thrill. If one looked at the thing in one way, he was +plunging into trouble that might have been avoided; but he had been +prudent long enough and found a strange satisfaction in being rash. +Besides, no matter what difficulties he got into, he would be repaid by +the memory of the look Alice had given him. The way the warm color +crept into her face had stirred him as nothing else had done. Anyhow, +he had started on the adventure and was going to see it through. + +After a time, they sped across a bridge, where a burn splashed noisily +down a ravine, and John asked: "How long have we got, sir?" + +"Ten minutes, if the train's punctual." + +"And where's the other car, sir?" + +Foster, whose eyes were dazzled by the match he had struck, looked +round and saw a misty flash in the dark. + +"About half a mile behind, I think." + +"Very good, sir. It all depends upon the train now. She's not often +late." + +The throb of the engine quickened and struck a sharper note, and Foster +felt the car leap forward up the hill. Turning in his seat, he watched +the flickering gleam behind and saw it grow fainter and then gradually +get bright. It looked as if the pursuers had lost sight of the front +car's tail lamp and were increasing their speed. + +"They're creeping up," he said to John, who did not reply. + +Foster thought they had now reached the top of the moor, and as they +swung up and down across the heathy undulations a streak of light +flashed out in the distance. + +"That's the train," he said. + +"Yes, sir. You can see her for two or three miles." + +Then there was a change in the sound and motion, and Foster knew the +engine was running all-out. Showers of small stones and water flew up +about the wheels and the wind whipped his face, but the following light +was a little nearer when he looked behind. The other car had reached +the summit and it would be a close race, but he thought they could keep +their lead long enough. Then he looked ahead and saw that the bright +streak he had noticed had gone. The fireman had, no doubt, closed the +furnace door, but the lights from the carriage windows twinkled faintly +across the heath. He could not see the station, but it was obvious +that he had not much time to spare. + +A few moments later they swept across a low rise and a faint blur of +buildings loomed among a cluster of lights. They were now going +furiously and he seized the side of the car as they swung round a +curve. He felt the near wheels sink as they crushed through spongy +sod, and the car tilted, but they got round, and there was a sudden jar +when the station lay some fifty yards ahead. Foster jumped out before +the car quite stopped. + +"Round with her! I'm all right," he said. + +"Very good, sir. If I might remark------" + +Foster heard nothing more as he ran up the road, carrying the bag. The +train was very near; he could hear the roar it made in a shallow +cutting, but as he reached the station the sound ceased and the engine +rolled past. He took a ticket to Edinburgh, and hurrying across the +bridge, picked a compartment that had another occupant and stood at the +door, where he could see the steps he had come down. There was nobody +on the bridge and he seemed to be the only passenger, but a porter +began to drag some packages from the van and leisurely put them on a +truck. Foster quivered with impatience as he watched the fellow. If +he kept the train another minute, it might be too late. Then he +glanced back at the bridge. Nobody came down the steps yet, but the +porter had not finished, and one could still catch the train. + +He crossed the floor to the opposite window, from which he could see +the booking office, but as he loosed the strap he felt a jerk. Then +the engine panted and the wheels began to turn. He ran back to the +other door, but there was only the porter on the platform and the lamps +were sliding past. Pulling up the window, he turned to the passenger +with a forced smile. + +"Sorry if I disturbed you! The man I was looking for hasn't come." + +In the meantime, John turned the car round and drove back to the bend. +The road was narrow, but there was room for two vehicles to pass, +provided that both kept well to the proper side. John, however, took +the middle and did not swerve much when a dazzling beam swept round the +curve. He blew his horn; there was an answering shriek from an +electric hooter, and then a savage shout. John, who was near the left +side now, but not so close as he ought to have been, freed the clutch +and used the brake, and the other car, missing him by an inch or two, +plunged into the wet grass across the road. As he stopped he saw the +boggy soil fly up and the lamps sink towards the ground. Jumping off, +he found the car had brought up in front of a wall, with the front +wheels buried to the axle. The driver and a very angry man in a soft +hat were getting out. + +"You nearly wrecked us," said the latter. "What d'you mean by fooling +about the middle of the road like that?" + +"I wasn't quite in the middle, sir. It's an awkward curve and your +lights dazzled me." + +"Where's the man you brought?" + +"I imagine he's caught the train, sir," John answered with +imperturbable calm. + +He thought the other came near to knocking him down, for he clenched +his fist, but after a savage exclamation went back to the car. + +"The engine won't move her. How are we going to get her out?" he said. + +"I could give you a pull, sir," John replied with respectful gravity, +"They keep a rope at the station for shunting. Perhaps you had better +send the driver, sir." + + + + +X + +THE DROVE ROAD + +Foster spent the next day lounging about Edinburgh and looking out for +Daly, whom he had expected to follow him. He, however, saw nothing of +the man, and felt half disappointed, because he missed the excitement +of the chase. It was too cold and wet to roam the streets with much +enjoyment, there was no good play at the theaters, and he had seen +picture palaces in Canada. Moreover, he had led an active life, and +having nothing to do soon began to get irksome. It was curious that he +had never felt bored at the Garth, even when he scarcely saw Alice +during the day, but then the Garth had a peculiar charm. It was +possible that Daly had gone back there, and he had been a fool to leave. + +He was sitting in the hotel smoking-room next morning when a stranger +came up and sat down close by. The man had a quiet, thoughtful air, +and lighted his pipe. There was nothing about him to indicate his rank +or occupation, and Foster wondered what he wanted. + +"I hope you won't object to my asking if you're a Canadian?" he said. + +"I don't know if I object or not. Anyhow, I'm English." + +"But perhaps you have been in Canada," the stranger remarked politely. + +Foster looked hard at him. "I haven't the pleasure of your +acquaintance, but had better hint that you're wasting time if you're a +friend of Daly's." + +The stranger smiled and Foster saw that he had been incautious. "I +don't know the gentleman." + +"Then what is your business?" + +"If you insist on knowing, I'm connected with the police." + +"Well," said Foster, "I'll pay you a compliment by stating that I +wouldn't have imagined it; but I don't understand what the police have +to do with me." + +"It's very possible that they have nothing to do with you, but you can +perhaps make that plain. You signed the visitor's book John Foster, +which doesn't quite correspond with the letters on your bag." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "I begin to understand. No doubt, you noticed +Lawrence Featherstone's name on the lock, and the Canadian Pacific +label?" + +"I did," the other admitted with humorous dryness. + +Foster pondered. On the whole, he was glad he had registered in his +proper name, though he had been tempted to give Featherstone's, in case +Daly made inquiries. He had, however, decided that the latter probably +thought they were both in Great Britain and would expect them to keep +together. He did not doubt that his visitor belonged to the police, +because an impostor would be easily found out. + +"Featherstone's my partner and I took his baggage by mistake when we +left a small Canadian town," he said, and added after a pause: "I +expect the explanation sounds rather lame." + +The other smiled, but Foster felt he was being subjected to a very +close scrutiny. Although sensible of some annoyance, he felt inclined +to like the man, who presently resumed: "You have been in Edinburgh +before." + +"For a day; I left in the evening and went to Newcastle." + +"To Newcastle?" said the other thoughtfully. "Did you stay there?" + +"I did not," said Foster, thinking frankness was best. "I went back to +a country house in Northumberland that belongs to my partner's father. +Lawrence Featherstone and I own a sawmill in Canada, but at present I'm +taking a holiday in the Old Country." + +He could not tell if the man was satisfied or not, for he asked +abruptly: "Who is the Mr. Daly you mentioned?" + +"I really don't know. It looks as if he were something of a +blackmailer, and I must admit that I was trying to keep out of his way." + +The man pondered for a minute, and then getting up gave Foster a card. + +"Very well; I don't think I need keep you. You have my address if you +should want to communicate with me." + +He went out and Foster thought he had not handled the situation with +much skill. It was a mistake to mention Daly and perhaps to state that +he had been to Newcastle. He thought the man looked interested when he +heard this. Then it was curious that he seemed to imagine Foster might +want to write to him; but he began to see a possible reason for his +being watched. Hulton had, no doubt, sent somebody over to inquire +about the stolen bonds, and if the man had discovered anything +important, he might have asked the help of the police. In this case, +the movements of strangers from Canada would be noted. The trouble was +that Foster could not be frank with the police, because Lawrence's +secret must be carefully guarded. + +In the afternoon he entered a fashionable tea-room and sat for a time +in a corner. The room was divided into quiet nooks by Moorish arches, +from which lamps of an antique pattern hung by chains and threw down a +soft red glow. Heavy imitation Eastern curtains deadened the hum of +voices and rattle of cups. The air was warm and scented, the light +dim, and Foster, who had often camped in the snow, felt amused by the +affectation of sensual luxury as he ate iced cakes and languidly +watched the people. He could only see two or three men, one of whom he +had noticed at the hotel and afterwards passed in the street. This was +probably a coincidence, but it might have a meaning, and he moved back +behind the arch that cut off his corner. When he next looked about, +the fellow had gone. There were, however, a number of pretty, +fashionably-dressed girls, and he remarked the warm color in their +faces and the clearness of their voices. The Scottish capital seemed +to be inhabited by handsome women. + +He was, however, somewhat surprised when one came towards him and he +recognized the girl he had met at Hawick station. He had hardly +expected her to claim his acquaintance, as she obviously meant to do. + +"You seem to be fond of Edinburgh," she remarked, sitting down at his +table. + +"It's an interesting city. I'm a stranger and ignorant of your +etiquette; but would I be permitted to send for some cakes and tea?" + +"I think not," she answered, smiling. "For one thing, I must go in a +minute." + +Foster waited. The girl had good manners, and he thought it unlikely +that she was willing to begin a flirtation with a man she did not know; +besides she had stopped him sending for the tea. She was pretty, and +had a certain air of refinement, but it was a dainty prettiness that +somehow harmonized with the exotic luxury of the room. This was a +different thing from Alice Featherstone's rather stately beauty, which +found an appropriate background in the dignified austerity of the Garth. + +"Are you enjoying your stay here?" she resumed. "I begin to think I've +had enough. The climate's not very cheerful, and the people seem +suspicious about strangers." + +"The Scots are proverbially cautious," she answered carelessly, but +Foster thought he saw a gleam of interest in her eyes. "I suppose +somebody has been bothering you with questions?" + +"Yes; as I'm of a retiring character, it annoys me. Besides, I really +think it's quite unjustified. Do I look dangerous?" + +"No," she said with a twinkle, "if you did, I shouldn't have ventured +to speak to you. On the contrary, you have a candid air that ought to +banish distrust. Of course, I don't know if it's deceptive." + +"You have to know people for some time before you understand them, but, +on the whole, I imagine I'm harmless," Foster replied. "That's what +makes it galling. If I had, for example, a part in some dark plot, I +couldn't resent being watched. As it happens, I merely want to get as +much innocent pleasure as possible out of a holiday, and feel vexed +when people won't let me." + +The girl gave him a quick, searching look, and then said carelessly, +"One can sympathize with you; it is annoying to be watched. But after +all, Edinburgh's rather dull just now, and the cold winds are trying to +strangers." + +"Is this a hint that I ought to go away?" + +"Do you take hints?" she asked with a smile. "Somehow I imagine you're +rather an obstinate man. I suppose you took the packet to Newcastle?" + +"I did," Foster admitted in an apologetic voice. "You see, I promised +to deliver the thing." + +"And, of course, you kept your word! Well, that was very nice of you, +but I wouldn't make any rash promises while you stay in this country. +Sometimes they lead one into difficulties. But I must go." + +She left him with a friendly smile, and he sat down again in a +thoughtful mood. It looked as if she had had an object in talking to +him, and she had learned that he had gone to Newcastle and had since +been watched. He gathered that she thought the things had some +connection, though her remarks were guarded. Then she had given him +another hint, which he meant to act upon. + +Leaving the tea-room, he walked for a short distance and then stopped +on the pavement in Princes Street and looked about. It was dark, but a +biting wind had cleared the air. At one end of the imposing street a +confused glimmer marked the neighborhood of the Caledonian station, and +when one looked the other way a long row of lights ran on, and then +curving round and rising sharply, ended in a cluster of twinkling +points high against the sky. The dark, blurred mass they gathered +round was the Castle rock, and below it the tall spire of the Scott +monument was faintly etched against the shadowy hollow where the +gardens sloped away. + +Now he had resolved to leave the city, Foster felt its charm and half +resented being, in a manner, forced to go, but walked on, musing on the +way women had recently meddled with his affairs. To begin with, Carmen +had given him the troublesome packet, then it was largely for Alice +Featherstone's sake he had embarked on a fresh adventure, and now the +girl in the tea-room had warned him to leave the town. It was a +privilege to help Alice, but the others' interference was, so to speak, +superfluous. A man could devote himself to pleasing one woman, but one +was enough. + +After a few minutes he stopped and looked into a shop window as a man +passed a neighboring lamp. It was Daly and the fellow moved slowly, +although Foster did not think he had seen him yet. He would know very +soon and for a moment or two he felt his heart beat, but when he looked +round Daly had passed. Foster followed and saw him enter the tea-room. +This was disturbing, although Foster remembered that he had told nobody +he was going there. He decided to leave Edinburgh as soon as he could +next morning and bought a map of southern Scotland on his way back to +the hotel. + +After dinner, he sat down in the smoking-room near a man to whom he had +once or twice spoken. The latter was a red-faced, keen-eyed old +fellow, and looked like a small country laird. + +"I've come over to see Scotland and have been long enough in the +capital," he said. "After all, you can't judge a country by its towns. +What would you advise?" + +"It depends upon what ye want to see?" the man replied. + +"I think I'd like the moors and hills. I get enough of industrial +activity in Ontario, and would sooner hear the grouse and the +black-cock than shipyard hammers. Then I'd prefer to take my time and +go on foot." + +His companion nodded approval. "Ye have sense. Are ye a good walker?" + +"I have walked three hundred miles through pretty rough country and +dragged my belongings on a hand-sledge." + +"Then I think I can tell ye how to see rugged Scotland, for the country +has two different sides. Ye can take your choice, but ye cannot see +both at once. I could send ye by main roads, where the tourists' +motors run, to the show-places, where ye would stay at smart hotels, +with Swiss and London waiters, and learn as much o' Scottish character +as ye would in Lucerne or the Strand." + +"I don't think that is quite what I want. Besides, I haven't much time +and would sooner keep to the south." + +"Then ye'll take the high ground and go by tracks the moss-troopers +rode, winding up the waters and among the fells, where there's only +cothouse clachans and lonely farm-towns. Ye'll see there why the old +Scottish stock grows firm and strong and the bit, bleak country breeds +men who make it respected across the world. Man, if I had not +rheumatism and some fashious business I cannot neglect, we would take +the moors together!" + +"You don't seem to like the smart hotels," Foster remarked, half amused. + +"I do not like the folk they harbor. The dusty trippers in leather +coats and goggles ye meet at Melrose and Jedburgh are an affront to an +old Scottish town. But a man on foot, in clothes that match the ling +and the gray bents, gives a human touch to the scene, whether ye meet +him by a wind-ruffled lochan or on the broad moor. Ye ken he has come +slowly through the quiet hills, for the love o' what he sees. But ye +will not understand an old man's havering!" + +"I think I do," said Foster. "One learns the charm of the lone trail +in the Canadian bush. But I have a map, and don't care much where I +go, so long as it's somewhere south. Suppose you mark me out a route +towards Liddesdale." + +The man did so, and jotted down a few marginal notes. + +"I'm sending ye by the old drove roads," he explained. "Sometimes +ye'll find them plain enough, but often they're rough green tracks, and +nobody can tell ye when they were made. The moss-troopers wore them +deeper when they rode with the spear and steel-cap to Solway sands. +Afterwards came the drovers with their flocks and herds, the smugglers' +pack-horse trains, and messengers to Prince Charlie's friends from +Louis of France. That's why the old road runs across the fell, while +the turnpike keeps the valley. If ye follow my directions, ye'll maybe +find the link between industrial Scotland and the stormy past; it's in +the cothouse and clachan the race is bred that made and keeps alive +Glasgow and Dundee." + +Foster thanked him and examined the map. It was clearly drawn and +showed the height and natural features of the country, which was +obviously rough. The path marked out led over the Border hills, dipped +into winding valleys, and skirted moorland lakes. It seemed to draw +him as he studied it, for the wilderness has charm, and the drove road +ran through heathy wastes far from the smoke of factories and mining +towns. Well, he was ready to cross the bleak uplands, without +troubling much about the mist and rain, for he had faced worse winters +than any Scotland knew, but he reflected with grim amusement that Daly +would find the traveling rough if he got on his trail. + +There were, however, some things he needed for the journey, and he went +out to buy them while the shops were open. Next morning he gave +instructions that letters for himself and Lawrence should be sent to +Peebles, and when the clerk objected that he could not forward +Featherstone's without the latter's orders, said it did not matter. He +had left a clew for Daly, which was all he wanted, but, in order to +make it plainer, he sent the porter to the station with the bag and +told him to wait by the Peebles train. Then he set off, dressed in the +oldest clothes he had, wondering what adventures he would meet with in +the wilds. + + + + +XI + +THE POACHERS + +Foster left Peebles soon after his arrival and following the Tweed down +stream to Traquair turned south across the hills. A road brought him +to Yarrow, where he sat down to smoke in the shelter of a stone dyke by +the waterside. He had no reason to believe that he was followed, and +there were two good hotels beside St. Mary's loch, which was not far +off. But Foster did not mean to stay at good hotels and knew that Daly +would not have much trouble in reaching St. Mary's in a car if he +arrived at Peebles by a later train. It would then be difficult to +keep out of his way, and if he found Foster alone, he would, no doubt, +go back to look for Lawrence at the Garth. Taking this for granted, +Foster thought it better to put Ettrick Forest between himself and +possible pursuit. + +It looked a lonely region on the map, and when he glanced south the +hills loomed, dark and forbidding, through thin gray mist. Pools of +water dotted the marish fields, and beyond these lay a wet, brown moss +where wild cotton grew among the peat-hags. Plover were crying about +the waste and a curlew's shrill tremolo rang out as it flitted across +the leaden sky. The outlook was not encouraging, but Foster picked his +way across the bog and struck up the side of a fell. There was a road, +but it would take him some distance round. + +Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches +where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts +of withered heath. Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry +twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but +he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made. Still +Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south. +Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he +took shelter behind a broken dyke. The rain got worse and the moor was +lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse +sound in the haze below. He thought this was the roar of Ettrick or a +fall on a moorland burn that would lead him down. + +When he began to feel cold he set off again, and the rain, which +thinned as he went down hill, stopped altogether when he reached the +bottom. A road ran beside the angry water, but the valley was deeply +sunk in the dark fells and their summits were hidden by drifting mist. +There was no hint of life in the dreary landscape except a moving patch +that looked like a flock of sheep, and a glance at the map showed that +his path led on across the waste to the south. It would be a long +march to Hawick, which was the town he meant to reach, particularly if +he went up the valley, until he found a road, but his director had +indicated a clachan as his stopping-place. He understood that a +clachan meant a hamlet, and the old fellow had said he would find rough +but sufficient accommodation in what he called a change-house. It +would be awkward if he lost the way, but this must be risked, and +crossing the river he struck into the hills. + +He found a rough track, and presently the sky began to clear. +Pale-blue patches opened in the thinning clouds, and gleams of +sunshine, chased by shadow, touched the moor. Where they fell the +brown heath turned red and withered fern glowed fiery yellow. The +green road, cropped smooth by sheep and crossed by rills of water, +swung sharply up and down, but at length it began a steady descent, and +about four o'clock in the afternoon Foster stopped in the bottom of a +deep glen. + +A few rushy fields occupied the hollow and a house stood in the shelter +of a thin fir wood. It had mullioned windows and a porch with pillars, +but looked old, and the walls were speckled with lichens. A garden +stretched about it, and looking in through the iron rails, Foster saw +gnarled fruit trees fringed with moss. Their branches cut against a +patch of saffron sky, and a faint warm glow touched the front of the +building. There was a low window at its nearer end and Foster saw a +woman sewing by the fire. + +The house had a strangely homelike look after the barren moors, and +Foster, feeling tired and cold, longed to ask for shelter. Had it been +a farm, he might have done so, but he thought it belonged to some +country laird and resumed his march. He never saw the house again, but +remembered it now and then, as he had seen it with the fading light +that shone through the old apple trees touching its lichened wall. + +The road led upwards and he stopped for breath at the summit. The glen +was now shut in and the light going, but here and there in the distance +a loch reflected a pale gleam. A half-moon shone above the hills and +the silver light got brighter as he went on. The wind had fallen and +the silence was emphasized by the faint splash of water. After a time, +he came down to lower ground where broken dykes divided straggling +fields, but there was no sign of life until as he turned a corner an +indistinct figure vanished among the dry fern in the shadow of a wall. +Foster thought this curious, particularly when he passed the spot and +saw nobody there, but there was an opening in the dyke for the sheep to +go through. + +A little farther on, the road ran across a field, and when he was near +the middle he saw something move behind a gorse bush. Although it +looked like a man's head, he did not stop. Going on, as if he had seen +nothing, until he was close to the gorse, he left the track and walked +swiftly but softly across the grass. When he reached the bush a man +who had been crouching behind it sprang to his feet. He was tall and +roughly dressed, and looked like a shepherd or farm-hand. + +"Weel," he said with a truculent air, "what is it ye want with me?" + +The question somewhat relieved Foster, who now noted the end of a long, +thin net in the grass. + +"I was curious to see what you were doing. Then I meant to ask the way +to Langsyke." + +"What are ye wanting there?" + +"To stay the night. I was directed to a change-house where they'd take +me in." + +"They might. Ye're a stranger, and ye'll tak' the road again the morn?" + +Foster said he meant to do so and the other pondered. + +"Weel, there's a soft flow where ye might get mired if ye left the +road, which is no' that plain, and I could set ye on the way, but +there's a bit job I'll hae to finish first." He paused and added with +a grin as he indicated the net: "Maybe ye hae a notion what it is." + +"I imagine it's connected with somebody else's grouse or partridges, +but that's not my business. You'll be a shilling or two richer if you +show me the way." + +"Then the sooner I'm finished here, the sooner we'll be off, though I +doot we hae fleyt the paltrig. Bide ye by the whinns, and when ye see +me at the dyke come forrad with the net. If I lift my airm, ye'll +stop." + +He went off with the end of the net, and Foster waited, half amused. +The fellow probably wanted to ensure his saying nothing about the +poaching by making him an accomplice, but this did not matter much. It +was an adventure and he was anxious to find a guide. By the way the +net unwound and slipped across the grass he thought there was another +man at work, but he carried his part forward as he had been told and +then dropped it and sat down among some rushes. Two indistinct figures +were moving towards each other and he got up presently when one +signaled. When he joined them a number of small dark objects showed +through the net. + +"Hae!" said a man who opened the meshes, and added when Foster picked +up two limp birds: "We've no' done so bad." + +Then Foster remembered the man he had seen as he came along the road. + +"How many of you are in the gang?" he asked. + +"There's twa o' us her. I'm thinking that's a' ye need ken." + +"It's what I meant," said Foster apologetically. "Still I passed +another fellow hiding, a short distance back." + +The men, saying nothing, took out the birds and began to roll up the +net. Foster had now four partridges, which they seemed to expect him +to carry, and was putting their legs together so as to hold them +conveniently when he heard a rattle of stones. Then a dark figure +leaped down from the wall and somebody shouted: "Stand where ye are or +I'll put a chairge o' number four in ye!" + +A leveled gun twinkled in the moonlight, and for a moment Foster +hesitated. He hardly thought the man would shoot, and it would be +awkward if he was arrested with the partridges in his hand. Springing +suddenly forward, he struck, from below upwards, with his stick. There +was a flash and a report, but he felt himself unharmed and brought the +stick down upon the gamekeeper's head. He heard the gun drop, and then +turned and, keeping in the shadow of the wall, ran across the field. +When he was near the opposite end, he saw another man waiting to cut +him off, and seizing the top of the dyke swung himself over. He came +down among withered fern and ran back behind the wall towards the spot +where he had left his first antagonist, until he struck a small, +winding hollow through which water flowed. This seemed to offer a good +hiding-place, but Foster knew better, although he followed it for a +short distance. One can often hide best in the open and it was prudent +to avoid the obvious line of search. Creeping out of the hollow, he +made for a clump of rushes and felt satisfied when he lay down behind +it. His waterproof and cap were gray, and his pursuers would have to +search all the field before they found him, unless they were lucky. + +After a few minutes, he saw them, but while one plunged into the +hollow, the other sat on top of the wall. This seemed to be the fellow +he had struck, and Foster was relieved to see he was not badly hurt. +The man, however, occupied a commanding position, because Foster's +chance of remaining unseen depended largely on the searcher's height +above the ground. He knew from experience gained in hunting that a +very small object will hide a man so long as the line of sight he must +avoid is nearly horizontal, but the fellow on the wall could see over +the rushes. In consequence, immobility was his only resource, and he +very cautiously turned his head enough to enable him to see. + +The gamekeeper who had entered the hollow presently came back into the +field and began to walk methodically up and down, and Foster regretted +his rashness in helping with the net. The poachers had vanished, but +the others seemed to know there was somebody about, and since they were +gamekeepers would be hard to deceive. His cover was not good, and +although he might have changed his place when the fellow in the field +was farthest away, he feared that a movement would betray him to the +other on the wall. + +In the meantime, the chill of the wet soil crept through his mackintosh +and his hands got numbed. He thrust them into the mossy grass for fear +they should show in the moonlight, and buried his face in the rushes, +which prickled his skin. He could, with some trouble, see through the +clump and anxiously watched the fellow who came steadily nearer. Now +and then he turned aside to examine a whinn bush, and Foster saw that +he had acted wisely when he dropped behind the rushes. Had he chosen a +prominent object for cover, he would have been caught. + +At length, the searcher crossed the field on a line that would bring +him close to where Foster lay, and the latter let his face sink lower +and tried to check his breathing. He durst not look about, but heard +the man's heavy boots splash in the boggy grass, until the fellow +suddenly stopped. Foster thought he had seen him, but did not move. +In the Northwest, he had now and then caught a jack-rabbit by carefully +marking its hiding-place, but had not seen it afterwards until he +nearly trod upon the crouching animal. It was comforting to remember +that his pursuers had not watched him drop behind the rushes. + +"Hae ye seen aught, Jock?" the keeper near him called, and Foster was +conscious of keen relief. + +"Naething ava," answered the other. "If he went doon the burn, he's +no' come oot." + +"He's no' there; ye would ha' seen him if he'd headed back." + +There was silence for a moment or two and Foster heard the water bubble +in the moss as the man moved his foot. The fellow would tread upon him +if he took a few steps in the right direction, but his mackintosh was +much the color of the withered grass and his face and hands were hidden. + +Then the man on the wall remarked in a thoughtful tone: "I'm no' quite +sure he went ower the dyke. Ye see, I was kin' o' staggered by the +clout on the head, and he might ha' slippit oot by the gate." + +"It will be Lang Pate, of course." + +"Just him," agreed the other. "He was near enough to reach me with his +stick and the light no' that bad. Besides, wha' else would it be?" + +Foster, seeing that he had escaped notice, felt amused. Long Pete was +suspected and therefore judged guilty; the keeper's last argument +banished doubt. + +"My heid's sair," the man resumed. "We'll look if they've gone doon +the glen, and then tak' the road if ye'll row up the net." + +The other crossed the field and Foster lay still until he heard him +climb the wall and afterwards made for a hole that led into the road. +Somewhat to his surprise, he found that he had brought the partridges. +He followed the road quietly, keeping in the shadow of a dyke, although +he thought the gamekeepers had gone the other way, and on turning a +corner came upon the poachers lurking behind a thorn bush. + +"We thought they had caught ye," one remarked. + +"I suppose you were anxious about it, because you were afraid I might +put them on your track." + +"I canna say ye're altogether wrang, but whaur are they the noo?" + +"Looking for you in the glen, I believe. But which of you is Long +Pete?" + +The man he had met first said it was his name, and Foster resumed: +"Then I imagine the fellow with the gun means to declare that you +struck him." + +"He would!" Pete remarked, grinning. "Weel, it's lucky I hae twa three +friends wha'll show that I couldna' ha' been near the spot just then. +But we'll need to hurry." + +"I think I understand," said Foster, who went on with them. "Still you +can't save much time, even if you walk very fast." + +"Verra true," Pete replied. "But it's no' difficult to pit back the +clock." + +Leaving the road presently, they struck across a bog that got softer as +they advanced until Foster felt the rotten turf tremble beneath his +feet. All round were clumps of rushes, patches of smooth but +treacherous moss, and holes where water glimmered in the moonlight. He +imagined it was a dangerous place for a stranger to cross, but his +companions knew the way, and although he sank to the top of his boots +they reached firmer ground. Soon afterwards, Pete showed him a rough +track that crossed the side of a hill. + +"Yon's your road and ye'll see the clachan in aboot a mile. If they're +no' verra willing to tak' ye in, ye can tell them ye're a freend o' +mine." + +Foster thanked him and followed the track, which led him to a hollow +where lights shone among a clump of bare ash trees. A few low, white +houses straggled along the roadside, and he thought one that was +somewhat larger and had dormer windows was the change-house. When he +knocked he was shown into an untidy kitchen where two men sat drinking +by a peat fire. At first, the landlord seemed doubtful about being +able to find room for him, but his manner changed when Foster +carelessly mentioned that he understood from Pete that he would be +welcome, and one of the others gave him a keen glance. + +"Where met ye Pate?" he asked. + +"On the hill," said Foster, who felt sure of his ground. "I helped him +with the net." + +"Had he any luck?" + +"Not much," said Foster. "Two gamekeepers turned up and although we +got a few partridges Pete lost his net." + +There was silence for a moment, and then another remarked: "I wouldna' +say but we ken enough. We hae helpit Pate oot before, and a change is +lightsome. He can gang till the moss-side folk noo." + +They let the matter drop, but Foster was given a better supper than he +expected and afterwards a bed in a cupboard fixed to the kitchen wall. + + + + +XII + +A COMPLICATION + +At noon next day Foster sat, smoking, on a bridge near the clachan. +The air was mild and sunshine filled the hollow, while Foster had just +dined upon some very appetizing broth. The broth was thick with +vegetables, but he did not think the meat in it came from a barn-door +fowl. The clachan was a poor and untidy place, but he was tired, and +as the gamekeepers would not suspect a neatly-dressed stranger, had +thought of stopping another night. When he had nearly finished his +pipe. Long Pete came up. Foster, who had only seen him in the +moonlight, now noted that he had a rather frank brown face and a +twinkling smile. + +"Ye'll be for Hawick?" he remarked. + +Foster said he was going there and Pete resumed in a meaning tone: +"It's a grand day for the road and ye could be in Hawick soon after +it's dark." + +"Just so," said Foster, who could take a hint. "But is there any +reason I should start this afternoon?" + +"Ye should ken. I was across the muir in the morning and found a +polisman frae Yarrow at Watty Bell's. He'd come ower the hills on his +bicycle and was asking if they'd seen a stranger wi' a glove on his +left han'." + +Foster made a little abrupt movement that he thought the other noted, +but said carelessly, "The fellow must have had a rough trip." + +"A road gangs roon' up the waterside, though I wouldna' say it's very +good. I'm thinking he made an early start and would wait for dinner +with Watty. Then ye might give him twa 'oors to get here." + +Foster looked at his watch and pondered. He was beginning to +understand Scottish tact and saw that Pete meant to give him a friendly +warning. It was obvious that the policeman would not have set off +across the hills in the dark of a winter morning unless he had been +ordered to make inquiries. Moreover, since the gamekeepers had +mistaken Foster for Pete, the orders had nothing to do with the +poaching. + +"Perhaps I had better pull out," he said. "But the fellow won't have +much trouble in learning which way I've gone." + +"I'm no' sure o' that. There's a road o' a sort rins west to Annandale +and Lockerbie." + +"But I'm not going west." + +"Weel," said Pete, "ye might start that way, and I would meet ye where +a sheep track rins back up the glen--ye'll ken it by the broken dyke +where ye cross the burn. Then I would set ye on the road to Hawick +ower the hill." + +"Thanks," said Foster thoughtfully. "I suppose I ought to let the +folks at the inn know I've gone towards Annandale, so they can tell the +policeman?" + +Pete's eyes twinkled. "It might be better if they didna' exactly tell +him, but let him find it oot; but I'll see tae that. Polisman Jock is +noo and then rather shairp." + +Ten minutes later, Foster left the inn and set off across the moor. +The heath shone red, and here and there little pools, round which white +stones lay in the dark peat, flashed in the sunshine. The pale-blue of +the sky changed near the horizon to delicate green, and a soft breeze +blew across the waste. Foster enjoyed the walk, although he was +puzzled and somewhat disturbed. If inquiries had been made about +Featherstone, he could have understood it, but the police were asking +for a man with a glove on his left hand, which could only apply to him. +Daly, of course, would be glad to get him out of the way, if he had +learned that he was in Scotland, but the police could not arrest a man +who had done nothing wrong. + +Foster now regretted that he had helped the poachers, although he +thought he had made friends who would not betray him and might be +useful. He had met Border Scots in Ontario, and knew something about +their character. They were marked by a stern independence, inherited +from their moss-trooper ancestors, and he thought Pete was a typical +specimen of the virile race. The man met him at the broken dyke, and +leaving the road they turned east up the side of a sparkling burn. + +The narrow strip of level ground was wet and covered with moss, in +which their feet sank, but the hillside was too steep to walk along. +It ran up, a slope of gray-white grass, to the ragged summit where the +peat was gashed and torn. Here and there a stunted thorn tree grew in +a hollow, but the glen was savagely desolate, and Foster, glancing at +his companion, thought he understood why the men who wrung a living +from these barren hills prospered when they came out to the rich +wheat-soil of Canada. The Flowers of the Forest, who fell at Flodden, +locking fast the Scottish square against the onslaught of England's +finest cavalry, were bred in these wilds, and had left descendants +marked by their dour stubbornness. Pete's hair was turning gray and +his brown face was deeply lined, but he crossed the quaking moss with a +young man's stride, and Foster thought his mouth could set hard as +granite in spite of his twinkling smile. He was a man who would forget +neither a favor nor an injury, and Foster was glad to feel that he was +on his side. + +At the head of the glen they climbed a long grassy slope and came to a +tableland where the peat was torn into great black rifts and piled in +hummocks. This was apparently Nature's work, but Foster could not see +how the storms that burst upon the hills could have worked such havoc. +Crossing the rugged waste to a distant cairn, they sat down upon the +stones, and Pete filled his pipe from Foster's pouch. + +"Ye'll haud east until ye find a burn that will lead ye doon to the +road; then as ye cross the breist o' a fell ye'll see the reek o' +Hawick," he said and added after a pause: "Maybe ye'll no' be stopping +in the town?" + +"I'll stay the night. After that, I think I'll take the hills again. +I'm going south towards Liddesdale, but I expect that's out of your +beat." + +Pete smiled. "There's maist to be done in my regular line this side o' +Hawick. Buccleugh looks after his hares and paltrigs weel, and his +marches rin wide across the country from Teviot to Liddel. But I hae +freends a' the way to the North Tyne, and there's no' many sheep sales +I do not attend. If ye're wanting them, I could give ye a few +directions that might help ye on the road." + +Foster thanked him and listened carefully. It looked as if the +poachers, who seemed to work now and then as honest drovers, knew each +other well and combined for mutual protection. It might be useful to +be made an honorary member of the gang. + +"Weel," his companion concluded, "if ye stop at the inns I've told ye +o', ye'll find folks who can haud a quiet tongue, and if ye see ony +reason for it, ye can say ye're a freend o' mine." + +Foster rather diffidently offered him some money, but was not surprised +when the man refused the gift. Indeed, he felt that it would have +jarred him had Pete taken it. The latter gave him his hand with a +smile and turned back to the glen while Foster pushed on across the +heath. He reflected with some amusement that Pete probably thought him +a fugitive from the law. + +After a time he stopped to look about. His view commanded a horizon of +two or three miles, for he seemed to be near the center of the +tableland. Its surface was broken by the hummocks and hollows of the +peat, and tufts of white wild cotton relieved the blackness of the +gashes in the soil. Sheep fed in the distance, and he heard the harsh +cry of a grouse that skimmed the heath. The skyline was clear, and by +and by two sharp but distant figures cut against it. + +Foster's first impulse was to drop into the ling, but he did not. If +the men were following him, it would take them half an hour to reach +the spot he occupied and, if necessary, the roughness of the ground +would enable him to reach the edge of the moor without their seeing +which way he went. Besides, since he would be visible as long as he +stood up, he could find out whether they were looking for him or not. +They came nearer and then vanished, and he sat down and speculated +about his line of retreat. Their disappearance was suspicious, and +although he thought he could baffle the rural police, it would be +different if he had gamekeepers to deal with. + +By and by the men reappeared, but as they did not seem anxious to cover +their movements he felt relieved. It was possible that they had come +to mend a fence or look for some sheep. For all that, he drew back +among the hummocks, and looked for hollows where he would have a +background for his figure as he resumed his march. He saw no more of +the men and by and by came to a burn, which he followed to lower +ground, where he found the road Pete had told him about. + +It led him up and down hill, and now and then the track was faint, +while when he crossed the last ridge the light was fading. Motionless +gray clouds stretched across the sky, which glimmered with pale saffron +in the west. Rounded hills, stained a deep blue, cut against the +light, and a trail of gauzy vapor hung about a distant hollow. Since +there was no mist on the moors, he knew it was the smoke of Hawick +mills. + +As he went down, stone dykes began to straggle up the hill. The fields +they enclosed were rushy and dotted with whinns, but they got smoother +and presently he came to stubble and belts of plowing. Then he turned +into a good road and saw rows of lights that got gradually brighter in +the valley ahead. It had been dark some time when he entered Hawick, +and the damp air was filled with a thin, smoky haze. Factory windows +glimmered in the haze and tall chimneys loomed above the houses. The +bustle of the town fell pleasantly but strangely on his ears after the +silence of the moors. + +Reaching a hotel that looked comfortable, he went in, ordered dinner, +and provisionally booked a room, though he did not register and +explained that he could not tell yet if he would stay all night. Then, +leaving his knapsack, he went into the street and stopped by a bridge +where three roads met. A guide-post indicated that one led to Selkirk, +and the map had shown Foster that this was the way to Peebles and +Yarrow. Another ran up the waterside to Langholm and the south. + +Foster lighted a cigarette and drawing his maimed hand into the sleeve +of his mackintosh, leaned against the side of the bridge and watched +the Selkirk road. It was not cold and the street was well lighted by +the windows of the shops. Briskly moving people streamed across the +bridge, as if the factory hands were going home from work, but nobody +seemed interested in Foster and the policeman who stood by the +guide-post paid him no attention. He thought about going back to the +hotel when a car, traveling rather fast, came down the road and pulled +up close by. + +Foster leaned quietly against the bridge and did not turn his head, but +saw Daly sitting beside the driver; the half-dried mud that was thickly +crusted about the car indicated a long journey. An abrupt movement +might be dangerous, although he did not think Daly expected to find him +or Featherstone calmly lounging about the street. The driver beckoned +the policeman and Foster heard him ask if one crossed the bridge for +Langholm. + +The man told him to turn to the right, and after speaking to the driver +Daly asked if there was a garage and a good hotel near. The policeman +gave him some directions, and when the car turned round and rolled away +Foster followed. He passed close by the policeman and, taking +advantage of the sociable Scottish custom, nodded and remarked that it +was a fine night. The man answered civilly, with a careless glance at +Foster, who went on, feeling satisfied with his experiment. It was +obvious that no inquiries about him had been telegraphed to Hawick and +he had only Daly to deal with. This was curious, if the police were +really anxious to find him. + +The garage was open and Foster asked a man if he could hire a motor +bicycle. The fellow said he thought so, but the manager was out, and +Foster strolled about the room. Daly's driver was refilling the lamps +with carbide, and when he finished asked for petrol. + +"Ye're for the road again," the man who brought the tin remarked. + +"For Langholm," replied the driver. "I don't expect we'll go farther +to-night, but I must have things ready if the boss wants to go on." + +Foster hoped the other would ask where they had come from, but he did +not do so, and next moment Daly walked down some steps at the other end +of the room. Knowing that a quick retreat might betray him, Foster +stood still and examined a lamp he picked up. Daly crossed the floor, +passing within a yard or two. + +"You can fix her all right, I suppose?" he said to the driver. + +The latter said something about a sparking-plug, and when Daly stooped +over the engine the light of a lamp shone into his face. He was a big, +handsome man, but Foster, studying him closely, noted his hard and +greedy eyes. For a moment, he came near forgetting the need for +caution and giving way to a fit of rage. The fellow had it in his +power to bring disgrace upon upright people and drag an honored name in +the mire. He could humble Alice Featherstone's pride and ruin the +brother she loved. + +Lawrence had done wrong, but had paid for it and made good in Canada, +and now the rogue who had learned his secret would drag him down, or, +as the price of silence, bring his relatives to poverty. Foster felt +that Daly was not the man to be merciful when there was an advantage to +be got; one saw a sinister hint of cruelty in his coarsely-handsome +face. It would have been a relief to provoke the fellow and throw him +out of the garage, but Foster knew he must deny himself this +satisfaction, since it would make things worse for those he meant to +shield. He did not remember having felt so full of primitive +savageness before, but he exercised his self-control. + +Standing in the shadow, he turned his head, looking down at the lamp he +began to take to pieces, and presently Daly said to the driver, "You +had better get some food; I'll want you soon." + +Then he came back and passing close enough to touch Foster, went up the +steps and through a door. Foster put down the lamp and strolled out of +the garage. He found dinner ready at his hotel and when he had +finished went to the smoking-room, which was opposite the office. He +left the door open and by and by heard a man enter the hall and stop at +the counter. + +"Have you an American called Franklin here?" he asked and Foster smiled +as he recognized Daly's voice. + +He had half-expected the visit, and the inquiry was cleverly framed. +Daly had not asked about a Canadian, because the accent of Western +Canada is that of the United States, and Franklin resembled +Featherstone enough to prompt the girl clerk to mention the latter if +he were a guest. For all that, Daly was ignorant of the Scottish +character, because the Scot seldom offers information that is not +demanded. + +"No," she said, "we have no American staying with us." + +Foster thought Daly opened the visitors' book, which lay on the +counter, but as he had not yet entered his name, there was nothing to +be learned from it. Still Daly might come into the smoking-room, and +he picked up the _Scotsman_ and leaning back in his chair held up the +newspaper to hide his face. After a few moments, Daly said, "I don't +know anybody here; it looks as if my friends aren't in the town." + +Then he went along the hall, and when the door shut Foster put down the +newspaper and began to think. He imagined that Daly hardly expected to +find Featherstone in Hawick, but it was curious that he was going to +Langholm, which was on the best road to Lockerbie in Annandale. It was +the police Foster had tried to put off the track at the clachan by +striking west across the moors, and he did not think Daly had anything +to do with them. He could see no light on the matter, but when he went +back to the garage it was something of a relief to find the car had +gone. + + + + +XIII + +FOSTER RETURNS TO THE GARTH + +After breakfast next morning Foster asked the hotel porter to take his +knapsack to the station and get him a ticket to Carlisle. He must +leave a clew for Daly, who might come back to Hawick when he failed to +find him in Annandale but would be badly puzzled if he went to +Carlisle, because it was an important railway center, where one would +have a choice of several different routes. This would give Foster a +few quiet days, after which he must think of a way of inducing Daly to +resume the chase. The latter probably thought he was following +Lawrence, and if he did not, no doubt concluded that Foster was working +in concert with him, and to find one would help him to deal with the +other. + +It was a dark morning and the smoke of the woolen factories hung about +the town. A few lights burned in the station, but the building was +gloomy and Foster had some trouble in finding the porter among the +waiting passengers. Soon after he did so, the train came in and the +man hurried along the platform, looking into the carriages. + +"Ye wanted a corridor, sir," he said as he opened a door. + +Foster got in and stood at the window until the porter went away. +People were running up and down looking for places, but he had no time +to lose. Opening the door on the opposite side, he went along the +corridor and stood for a moment on the step at the other end of the +carriage. He could not see the porter, and when two or three +passengers ran up got down from the step. Next moment the whistle +blew, the engine snorted, and the train rolled out of the station. + +As none of the porters spoke to him, Foster thought he had managed the +thing neatly and made it look as if he had come to see somebody off +instead of having been left behind. For all that, he waited a minute +or two, studying a time-table, to avoid the risk of overtaking the +hotel porter; and then made his way by back streets out of the town. +For some miles, the road he took ran south up a well-cultivated valley, +past turnip and stubble fields and smooth pasture; and then changed to +a rough stony track that climbed a hill. + +A turn shut in the valley when he reached higher ground, and a long +stretch of moor rolled away ahead. Foster thought these sharp +transitions from intensive cultivation to the sterile wilds were +characteristic of southern Scotland. It had rained since he left +Hawick, but now the sun shone down between the clouds and bright gleams +and flying shadows chased each other across the waste. To the south +the sky was clear and shone with a lemon-yellow glow, against which the +rounded hills rose, delicately gray. In one place there was a gap that +Foster thought was Liddesdale, and his path led across the latter +towards the head of Tyne. Not a house broke the sweep of withered +grass and heath, and only the crying of plover that circled in the +distance disturbed the silence. + +Foster liked the open trail and went on with a light step, until as he +crossed the watershed and the country sloped to the south, he came to a +wire fence and saw the black mouth of a railway tunnel beneath. It was +now about two o'clock, and feeling hungry, he sat down where a bank cut +off the wind, and took out some food he had bought at Hawick. He did +not know if he found the shining rails and row of telegraph posts that +curved away down the hillside out of place, but somehow they made him +feel foolishly unconventional. His boots and mackintosh were wet, he +was lunching on sweet biscuits and gingerbread, and did not know where +he would spend the night, although it would not be at a comfortable +hotel. Until he saw the tunnel, he had felt at home in the wilds and +might have done so yet, had he, for example, been driving a flock of +sheep; but the railway was disturbing. + +In this country, people traveled by steam-heated trains, instead of on +foot, and engaged a lawyer to defend them from their enemies. He was +going back to the methods of two or three centuries ago, and not even +doing this properly, since the moss-troopers who once rode through +those hills carried lances instead of a check-book, which was after all +his best weapon. He laughed and felt himself something of a modern Don +Quixote as he lighted his pipe. + +Then there was a roar in the tunnel and a North British express, +leaping out through a cloud of smoke, switched his thoughts on to +another track. His adventures had begun in a train, and it was in a +train he met the girl who warned him not to deliver Carmen's packet. +He did not see what the packet had to do with him, but he had had some +trouble about it and thought it might turn up again. Then he wondered +whether Daly was now in Annandale. The fellow was obviously determined +to find Lawrence, and, if one admitted that he had come to England for +the purpose, did not mind how much it cost him, which was rather +strange. After all, blackmailing was a risky business and the +Featherstones were not rich. It looked as if Daly might have some +other object in tracking Lawrence, but Foster could not see what it +was. Indeed, he was frankly puzzled. There was a mystery about +Carmen's packet, he had been warned out of Edinburgh, and inquiries +about him were afterwards made, while Daly's keenness was not quite +explained. He wondered whether these things were somehow related, but +at present they only offered him tangled clews that led nowhere. Well, +he might be able to unravel them by and by, and getting up went on his +way. + +He spent the night at a lonely cothouse on the edge of a peat-moss and +reached the Garth next afternoon. John let him in and after taking his +mackintosh remarked: "Mr. and Mrs. Featherstone are out, but Miss +Featherstone is at home; I will let her know you have arrived." Then +he paused and added in a half-apologetic tone: "I hope you had a +pleasant journey, sir." + +Foster smiled. John had softened his imperturbable formality by just +the right touch of respectful interest. In a sense, they were +accomplices, but Foster thought if they had committed a crime together, +the old fellow would have treated him with unmoved deference as his +master's guest. + +"On the whole, I had. I suppose you met the other car when you turned +back at the station?" + +"Yes, sir. I met it coming round the bend." + +"As the road's narrow, your judgment's pretty good. Did anything +happen?" + +John's eyes twinkled faintly. "Not to our car, sir. The other had the +bad luck to run on to the grass where the ground was soft. In fact, we +had some trouble to pull her out. The gentleman seemed annoyed, sir." + +Foster went to his room chuckling. He could imagine the deferential +way in which John, who had caused the accident, had offered help. When +we went down Alice met him in the hall and he thrilled at something in +her manner as she gave him her hand. It was getting dark and the glow +of the fire flickered among the shadows, but there was only one lamp, +and as it was shaded the light did not travel far beyond the small +table, on which tea was presently served. This hinted at seclusion and +homelike intimacy. An embroidered cloth half-covered the dark, +polished oak, the china was old but unusually delicate, and the blue +flame of a spirit lamp burned beneath the copper kettle. + +Foster thought everything showed signs of fastidious taste, but there +was something austere about it that harmonized with the dignified +shabbiness of the house. It was, for example, very different from the +prettiness of the Edinburgh tea-room, and he thought it hinted of the +character of the Borderers. For all that, the society of his companion +had the greatest charm. Alice was plainly dressed, but simplicity +became her. The girl had the Border spirit, with its reserves of +strength and tenderness. Now she was quietly friendly, but Foster knew +her friendship was not lightly given and was worth much. + +Alice made him talk about his journey and he did so frankly, except +that he did not mention his meeting the girl in the tea-room or the +detective's visit to his hotel. Still he felt a certain embarrassment, +as he had done when he told his partner's story. It was rather hard to +relate his own exploits, and he knew Alice would note any error he was +led into by vanity or false diffidence. + +"Then it was really to keep a promise to Miss Austin you went to +Newcastle," she remarked presently. "Since she sent you with the +packet, you must know her pretty well." + +"Yes," said Foster, "in a way, we are good friends. You see there are +not a great many people at the Crossing." + +Alice gave him a quiet glance. He was not such a fool as to imagine it +mattered to her whether he knew Carmen well or not. But he thought she +was not altogether pleased. + +"What is Miss Austin like?" she asked. + +Foster was careful about his reply. He wanted Alice to understand that +he was not Carmen's lover, which needed tact; but he was her friend and +must do her justice, while any breach of good taste would be noted and +condemned. He did his best, without learning if he had produced the +right effect, for Alice let the matter drop, as if it no longer +interested her. + +"Perhaps it's a pity you helped the men who were poaching," she said. +"I'm afraid you're fond of romantic adventures." + +"I'm sometimes rash and sorry afterwards," Foster admitted. "However, +there's an excuse for the other thing. This is a romantic country and +I've spent a long time in Canada, which is altogether businesslike." + +Alice gave him an approving smile, but she said, "One shouldn't be +sorry afterwards. Isn't that rather weak?" + +"I'm human," Foster rejoined. "A thing looks different when you come +to pay for doing it. It's pretty hard not to feel sorry then." + +"After all, that may be better than counting the cost beforehand and +leaving the thing undone." + +"You're a Borderer; one of the headstrong, old-fashioned kind that +broke the invasions and afterwards defied their own rulers for a whim." + +"As a matter of fact, a number of them were very businesslike. They +fought for their enemies' cattle and the ransom of captured knights." + +"Not always," Foster objected. "At Flodden, where the Ettrick spears +all fell in the smashed squares, the Scots king came down from his +strong camp to meet the English on equal terms. Then it wasn't +businesslike when Buccleugh, with his handful of men, carried off +Kimmont Willie from Carlisle. There was peace between the countries +and he had two offended sovereigns to hold him accountable." + +"It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," +Alice said smiling. + +"I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly. "Still, we have a few +books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the +thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot +stove, there's nothing to do but read. It would be hard for you to +picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from +heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the +grim white desolation outside. Perhaps it's curious, but after working +hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish. One wants +romance, but romance that's real and has the truth in it." + +"But your own life has been full of adventure." + +"In a way, but there was always a business proposition to justify the +risk. It's good to be reckless now and then, and I've felt as I read +about your ancestors that I envied them. There must have been some +charm in riding about the moors with one's lady's glove on one's steel +cap, ready to follow where adventure called." + +"So far as we know," said Alice, "it was the custom to honor one lady, +always. The Border chiefs were rude, but they had their virtues, and +there are some pretty stories of their constancy." + +Foster imagined he saw a faint sparkle in her eyes. He would have +liked to think she resented his having gone to Newcastle on Carmen's +behalf, but doubted this. After a pause she resumed: + +"People say we are decadent and getting slack with luxury, but one +likes to think the spirit of the race survives all changed conditions +and can't be destroyed. There is a colliery not very far off where the +water broke in some years ago. The men in the deep workings were cut +off, but the few who escaped went back into the pit--and never came up. +They knew the thing was impossible, their leaders frankly told them so, +but they would not be denied. Well, the colliery was not reopened, the +shaft-head towers are falling down, but there's a granite fountain on +the moor that will stand for ages to record the splendid sacrifice." + +"They had all to lose," said Foster. "One must admire, without hoping +to emulate, a deed like that." + +Alice changed the subject rather abruptly. "What you have told me is +puzzling. I can't see why the police followed you, and there's +something mysterious about the packet. It all seems connected with +Lawrence's affairs, and yet I can't see how. I suppose you have no +explanation?" + +"Not yet. I feel there's something going on in which I may by and by +take a part. The clews break off, but I may find one that's stronger, +and then----" + +He stopped, but Alice gave him an understanding glance. "Then you +would follow the clew, even if it led you into some danger, for +Lawrence's sake?" + +"I'd try," said Foster, with a flush that gave him a curiously +ingenuous look. "As I've no particular talent for that kind of thing, +I mightn't do much good, but you have accused me of being romantic and +I've owned that I am rash." + +Alice smiled. "You're certainly modest; but there's a rashness that is +much the same as generosity." + +Then Featherstone came in and after a time took Foster to the library, +where he gave him a cigarette. + +"It's strange we haven't heard from Lawrence yet," he said in a +disturbed voice. "He hasn't given the Canadian post office his new +address, because here's a letter they have sent on." + +"From Hulton, who seems to be in Toronto," said Foster, picking up the +envelope. "As I'm a partner, I'll open it." + +He did so and gave Featherstone the letter, which inquired if they +could supply some lumber the company needed. + +"I'm sorry we can't do the work, because we won't be back in time. It +would have been an interesting job to cut the stuff in the way Hulton +wants." + +"He seems to leave a good deal to your judgment and to have no doubt +about your sending him the right material." + +"I suppose that is so," Foster agreed. "Hulton soon got into the way +of sending for Lawrence when he wanted any lumber that had to be +carefully sawn. In fact, he treats him as a kind of consulting +specialist, and I imagine likes him personally." + +He was silent for the next minute or two. Featherstone's remark had +shown him more clearly than he had hitherto realized how high Lawrence +stood in the manufacturer's esteem. No other outsider was treated with +such confidence. Then he told Featherstone about his journey, and the +latter said: + +"I have heard nothing from Daly, but soon after you left, a gentleman +from Edinburgh came here to inquire about you." + +"Ah!" said Foster, rather sharply. "I suppose he was sent by the +police and imagine I met him at my hotel. His name was Gordon; I +thought it curious that he gave me his card." + +"That was the name. He asked if I knew you and I said I did." + +"Then it looks as if he meant to test my statements. Did he seem +surprised to learn I was staying here?" + +"It was hard to tell what the fellow thought; but somehow I felt that +he expected to find your story true. He, however, gave me no +information. What do you suppose he wants?" + +"I can't imagine; the thing's puzzling. What makes it stranger is that +I thought the interest Gordon took in me was, so to speak, benevolent." + +"But why should it be benevolent, if he had any ground for suspecting +you?" Featherstone asked. + +Foster glanced at him keenly. There was a change in his host's manner, +which had grown less cordial, but he admitted that Featherstone's +confidence was being subjected to some strain. It would certainly be +disturbing to find the police inquiring about him. Lawrence had not +written, and Foster saw that there was much in his statements that +sounded rather lame. + +"I don't understand the matter at all; but it might be better if I left +quietly in the morning," he said. "If I don't put Daly on my trail +again, he may come back." + +"Very well," said Featherstone, getting up. "But what did you do with +Lawrence's bag?" + +"I left it at a Peebles hotel. I thought if Daly found it was there, +it would give him a place to watch." + +Featherstone gloomily made a sign of agreement. "I wish Lawrence would +write to us. We are getting anxious about him and a letter would put +our minds at rest." + + + + +XIV + +FOSTER SEES A LIGHT + +After leaving the Garth, Foster went to Carlisle, where he bought small +articles at different shops and had them sent to his hotel, addressed +to Featherstone. He also asked if any letters for his partner had +come, and then, having done all he could think of to give his pursuers +a hint, waited to see what would happen. He imagined that since Daly +seemed to be well provided with money he would not undertake the search +alone, and there were private inquiry agents who would help him. The +services of these gentlemen would not be cheap, and Foster wondered if +the fellow knew that there was not very much to be extorted from +Featherstone. This, however, was Daly's business, and seeing no result +from his experiment, he resolved to leave Carlisle. + +He reached the station undecided where to go. A Midland express would +shortly start for the south, but it would be difficult to leave a clew +in the big manufacturing towns, and there was a stopping train soon +after the other on the North British line, which traverses the Border +hills. Foster preferred this neighborhood, because he was beginning to +know it and it was not far from the Garth, but after a few moments' +consideration went to the Midland ticket window. + +A row of passengers were waiting their turn, and as he took his place +in the line a man crossed the floor and stood behind him. There was +nothing suspicious in this, but the fellow had not come in by the +entrance hall, and if he had been in the station, it was strange he had +not got his ticket earlier. When his turn came, Foster asked for a +ticket to Appleby in a husky voice, and when the booking clerk +demanded, "Where?" looked over his shoulder. The man behind was +leaning forward, as if to catch his reply. + +"Appleby," said Foster, who had seen by a railway map that the town was +not far off, and getting his ticket, joined the passengers on the +platform. As he did so, the long train came in, but knowing that it +would be a minute or two before the engine was changed he walked up the +platform leisurely, looking into the carriages. There was some bustle, +for people were getting out and in, and he kept out of sight among them +until the guard waved his flag. Then he stepped behind a truck loaded +with milk-cans as the train rolled away. + +If the man he had noticed had been watching him, he thought he had put +him off the track, but he had no time to lose if he meant to catch the +stopping train. He got in as it started, choosing an old carriage +without a corridor, so that nobody could spy on him. They jolted over +the crossings, the old red wall of the city rolled by and dropped +behind, and as they ran out towards the open country across the Eden, +Foster thoughtfully lighted a cigarette. He had tried to put his +pursuers on his partner's supposititious trail, but it began to look as +if they were not following Lawrence but him. His injured hand could +hardly have escaped notice, and he was not really like Lawrence, of +whom Daly would no doubt have given his agents a good description. + +He wondered who was on his track, and with what object. Daly would +gain nothing by molesting him, and he could not see why the police +should take an interest in his movements, but he was being watched, and +felt uneasy. He was not sure that he had sent the last man off to +Appleby, although he hoped he had. + +The train, which stopped now and then, ran across flat fields until it +entered the valley of the Esk. The valley narrowed as they sped +through the woods beside the stream, and when the line turned up the +water of Liddel bleak hills began to rise ahead. The trees and rich +cultivation were gradually left behind, the air got keener, and lonely +moors rolled down to the winding dale. It got dark as they followed +the river, and soon afterwards Foster alighted at a small station. +Nobody else left the train except two or three country people, and he +went to an inn in the straggling little town. + +Next morning he set off on foot, heading northeast into the hills. He +walked leisurely, because he was going to Jedburgh, but had not made up +his mind if he would get there that night, since Pete had told him of a +farm where he could stop. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon he stopped near the middle of a +barren moorland and looked round. The road ran back into the strong +yellow glow of the sunset, but it crossed a ridge about a mile off, and +there was nobody in sight. It was very rough in places, but he thought +a skillful driver could take a car over it. To the east, where the +horizon was hazy, the high ground fell away, and he thought he could +strike another road to Jedburgh in three or four miles if he crossed +the heath. There seemed to be no reason why he should do so, but he +left the road and some time later came to a burn that ran down hill. + +By and by a rough track began in a marish field and got smoother as it +followed the burn. Then a hedge of tall thorns, with wool-fringed gaps +between their stems where the sheep went through, ran down the +waterside, and Foster sat down on a stone and studied his map. He +thought it would take him nearly two hours to reach Jedburgh, but the +small farm Pete had spoken of was not far off. The track he was on +seemed to lead to a better road in the valley. Mist was gathering in +the hollow, but when he looked back the sky was bright and the yellow +glow rested on the hill. The evening was very calm; he heard a curlew +crying far off across the moor, and then raised his head sharply at a +quick ringing sound. There was a wire fence up the hill, which he had +got over because the rotten gate stuck fast. Somebody had stumbled in +climbing it and his foot had struck the wire. + +Foster's eyes narrowed as he gazed up the track and saw two figures +come round a corner. They were too far off to be distinct, but were +walking fast. If he sat still, he would be invisible for two or three +minutes but not longer, and he quickly studied his surroundings. There +were large boulders and brambles between him and the water, and the +tall hedge offered a hiding place on the other side. It might be wiser +to get out of sight, but he would make an experiment, and dropped a few +wax matches and a London newspaper he had bought in Carlisle. The +country people did not use wax matches and London newspapers were not +common among the Border moors. + +Then, moving slowly, he made for the hedge. There were only a few +bushes between him and the approaching men, but he had a good +background, into which his figure would melt, and was ready to lie down +if needful. He paused for a moment at the edge of the burn, which +spread out in a shallow that reflected the fading light. He might be +seen against the water, but something must be risked, and if the men +were looking for him, they would watch the road. Stepping into the +stream, he waded across, making as little splash as possible, and found +a hole in the hedge, through which he crawled. He was now in the +shadow and it would be difficult to distinguish him among the thick +stems. + +The men were plainly visible and did not look like country people, for +the hill farmers and shepherds walk with a curious gait. Foster +crouched down and waited, knowing he would get a useful hint when they +reached the spot he had left. They stopped and one picked up the +newspaper, while his companion bent down and got up with something in +his hand. Foster, seeing that the fellow had found the matches, +wondered whether he had made the trail too plain. If they suspected +the trick, they would know he was not far off and search for him. + +He could not distinguish their faces and regretted this, because it +would have been useful to know the men again, and when they began to +talk their voices were too low for him to hear what they said. +Presently one left the road on the opposite side to the stream and +climbed the bank, on which he stood as if he wished to look across the +moor. The other walked along the edge of the grass with his head bent, +but Foster thought it was too dark to see any footprints he might have +left. The fellow came on a few yards towards the stream, and then +stood still while Foster tried to study him, but could only distinguish +his face as a white oval in the gathering dark. + +He was anxious and puzzled, because he did not know whether the men +wanted him or Lawrence. The nearer of them would, no doubt, see him if +he crossed the burn, but Foster thought he might seize and put the +fellow out of action before the other came up. This, however, would be +risky, and since he did not know their intentions he was not sure he +would gain much if he came off victor. To his relief, the man went +back and joined his companion in the road, where they stood looking +about, and then set off rapidly down hill as if they had decided to go +on to Jedburgh. + +When their footsteps died away Foster turned back along the hedge and +struck across the moor in the dark. It would be better to avoid +Jedburgh, and he must try to find the house that Pete had told him of. +He had some trouble in doing so and on the way fell into a bog, but at +length a light blinked on a hillside and he came to a small building, +sheltered by a few stunted ash trees. A shed thatched with heather and +a rough stone byre stood near the house, and a big peat-stack filled +one end of a miry yard. A dog ran out and circled around Foster, +barking, until an old man with a lantern drove it off and asked what he +wanted. + +Foster said he wanted shelter for the night and was willing to pay for +the accommodation, to which the other replied that they did not take in +strangers. When Foster stated that Long Pete had told him to go there +he hesitated, and finally said, "Weel, ye can come awa' in and see the +mistress." + +The flagged kitchen was very clean and a big peat fire burned in the +grate. A black oak meal-chest stood against the wall and old-fashioned +china filled the rack above. On the opposite side, there was a large +cupboard, which Foster thought concealed a bed. The room was warm and +looked comfortable after the wet moor. Then Foster turned to the +red-cheeked old woman who sat knitting by the fire and fixed on him a +quietly-scrutinizing gaze. He explained that he was tired and wanted +to stay the night, adding that Pete had said they would be willing to +accommodate him. + +"What for no', if ye're a friend o' his?" she asked. "It's a lang road +to Jedburgh. But ye'll be wanting some supper." + +Foster confessed that he was hungry and after a time sat down to a +plain but appetizing meal. When this was over he gave his host his +tobacco pouch and for an hour or two they talked and smoked. The man +farmed a patch of sour moss-land, but he was marked by a grave +politeness and asked his guest no awkward questions. Foster thought +the woman was studying him, but she restrained her curiosity and he +admitted that the manners of both were remarkably good. He was +beginning to understand and like the lowland Scots, though he saw that +some of the opinions he had formed about them were wrong. + +They were reserved, essentially practical, and industrious, but they +had, when one came to know them, a certain reckless humor that one did +not often find among Englishmen. Then they were marked by an +individualistic independence of character that made them impatient of +authority. They were not turbulent or given to protesting about +freedom, but they could not be cajoled or driven. It was strange to +find a well-organized fraternity of poachers in a quiet, law-keeping +country, but one must allow something for habits inherited from +moss-trooper ancestors. Foster had noted their respect for good +landlords of ancient stock, but this did not prevent them using the +landlord's salmon and game. Since he had, so to speak, been made a +member of the band, it was comforting to feel that they could be +trusted, and he was somehow sure of this. + +He slept soundly in the cupboard bed and made an excuse for staying at +the farm next day, but as he stood outside the house in the afternoon +his host came up. + +"There were two men on the Jedburgh road asking about a stranger on a +walking tour." + +"Ah!" said Foster. "Do you know whether they asked if the man they +wanted wore a glove?" + +"They did that!" + +Foster pondered. He was being searched for, and his host knew he was +the man inquired about, but the old fellow's face was expressionless. + +"Since I didn't get so far as the road, they'd learn nothing." + +The other's eyes twinkled. "I wouldna' say they would find out much if +they cam' up here." + +"Well," said Foster, "I don't know yet if I'll go on to-day or not." + +"Ye ken best aboot that," the farmer answered with Scottish dryness. +"I dinna' see much objection if ye're for stopping another night." + +He went off, but Foster felt satisfied that he was safe with him, and +presently strolled round to the peat-stack where he sat down in the +sun. There was a hollow where the peats had been pulled out, and the +brown dust was warm and dry. Lighting his pipe, he began to think. He +was being watched, but whether by the police, or Daly, or somebody +else, there was nothing to show. He did not think his poaching +adventure had much to do with it, but he had taken the packet to +Newcastle, although he had been warned against this. There was a +mystery about the packet. + +For a time he got no further, and as he sat, gazing vacantly across the +moor, the sun went behind a cloud and the freshening wind whistled +round the stack. It got cold and Foster's pipe burned out, but he did +not move. Hitherto he had been working in the dark, feeling for a +clew, but he began to see a glimmer of light and presently clenched his +fist with an exclamation. The light dawned on him in an illuminating +flash. + +He had been tricked and made a tool. Carmen had acted by her father's, +or somebody else's, orders when she gave him the packet, and the man in +Edinburgh had enclosed something before he sent him on to Newcastle. +Nobody would suspect him and that was why he had been entrusted with +the packet in Canada. It was now clear that he had been made use of to +carry the stolen bonds to Great Britain. Carmen, of course, knew +nothing about them, but had been influenced by Daly. Perhaps she was +in love with him, but in the meantime this did not matter. Foster +filled his pipe again, because he meant to solve the puzzle while the +light was clear and his brain was working well. + +Alice Featherstone had given him the first hint of the truth when she +suggested that the packet was somehow connected with his being watched +and Daly's pursuit of Lawrence. Of course it was! The police had not +much ground for suspecting him, but he had come to England without any +obvious business, and if Hulton or his agents had warned them, they +would inquire about strangers from Canada. Then he began to see why +Daly was determined to find Lawrence. + +Fred Hulton had been robbed and killed and Daly was implicated in the +crime, if he had not committed it himself. The fellow's first object +was not blackmail; he meant to use his power over Lawrence to ensure +his secrecy. Lawrence was the only person who had seen the murderer. +It could not have been clear if he had mistaken him for the watchman or +not when he went into the pay-office at the factory, and as long as a +doubt remained Lawrence was the greatest danger the gang had to reckon +on. Foster felt sure there was a gang. Admitting all this, one could +understand why Daly meant to find Lawrence, but Foster began to see how +he could make use of the situation. + +He had been easily deceived and the plotters no doubt thought him a +fool. Suppose he took advantage of their belief and asked for an +answer to his message or something of the kind? He might by good luck +get a letter or find out enough about them to explain what had happened +in Canada. The vague plan appealed to him strongly. He was savage at +the way he had been tricked, and it would be something to circumvent +the people who had made him a tool. Besides, he could not go to the +police yet: Lawrence's secret must be kept. He must first of all gain +such a hold on Daly as would render him powerless to injure his +comrade. After that, when he knew how far the man was implicated in +the robbery, he could decide what ought to be done. Well, he would go +to Newcastle and see Graham, to whom he had given the packet, but he +might need help and thought he knew where to find it. Getting up with +a quick, resolute movement, he went back to the house. + +"I'm going to write to Pete and bring him here," he said to the woman. +"I don't suppose you'll turn me out before he comes." + +She gave him a quiet, searching glance, and her husband seemed to leave +the matter to her. + +"For a' his poaching, ye'll find Pate an honest man," she answered +meaningly. + +"So am I; it's an honest man I want. You have trusted me and I'll +trust you as far as I can when Pete arrives. Shall we leave it until +then?" + +The woman nodded. "Ye can stay until he ken what yere business is." + +"Thank you," said Foster, who sat down to write to Pete. + +He thought her judgment would be just, if she had not already decided +in his favor. Until he came to Scotland, he had never met people who +could say so little and mean so much. Moreover, he imagined one could +depend upon their standing by all that they implied. They were +taciturn but staunch. + + + + +XV + +THE GLOVE + +Pete arrived in the evening when it was getting dark, and after a meal, +which they ate together, Foster moved his chair back from the table and +sat opposite his companions. A lamp was burning and the red glow from +the peat fire fell on their rough clothing and quiet brown faces as +they waited for him to speak. He admitted that what he was about to do +was rash. He had no logical reason for trusting these people and +perhaps no right to involve them in his difficulties, while the +sensible course would be to put the matter in the hands of the police. +But this was a course he did not mean to take. + +"I sent for you because I want your help and I'm willing to pay for it +well," he said to Pete. + +"Just that!" Pete answered quietly. "In an ordinar' way, I'm no' verra +particular, but before I take the money I'd like to ken how it's to be +earned." + +"As a matter of fact, you won't get all of it until it is earned and I +see how much the job is worth. In the meantime, you can judge, and if +necessary go to the police." + +Pete grinned. "They're no' the kin' o' gentry I hae mony dealings +with." + +"What for are ye hiding frae them?" the woman asked. + +Foster saw the others' eyes were fixed on him and he must, to some +extent, satisfy their curiosity. He did not think he could have +convinced conventional Englishmen, or perhaps Canadians, but these +Scots were different. They were certainly not less shrewd than the +others, but while sternly practical in many ways they had imagination; +moreover, they were descendants of the Border cattle-thieves. + +"I'm not really hiding from the police, but from people who have better +grounds for fearing them. I owe nobody anything and, so far as I know, +have done nobody wrong." + +There was silence for a moment or two and he recognized that his +statement was very incomplete, but somehow thought the others did not +discredit it. + +"If I could tell you the whole story, I would, but that's impossible +just now," he resumed. "Other people, honorable, upright people, are +involved. Of course, the thing looks suspicious, and you know nothing +about me, but what I mean to do is not against the law." + +They were silent yet, but after a few moments Foster saw his host +glance at the woman. + +"What is it ye mean to do?" she asked. + +"I'm going to Newcastle to try to get some information and papers that +will help me to save a friend from serious trouble. That's my first +object, but I hope to find out something about a crime in Canada, by +which another friend of mine suffered terribly. I may have to steal +the papers, and if I get them, expect I shall have to deal with a gang +of dangerous men, who will try to take them back. That's why I want +Pete; but he'll probably find it a risky business." + +Foster waited anxiously for a reply. He was not justified in expecting +it to be favorable, but he did so. The woman seemed to ponder, but +presently turned to Pete. + +"Ye had better gang." + +Pete laughed, a reckless laugh that hinted at a love of excitement and +danger. + +"Aye," he said, "that's what I was thinking!" + +After this the matter was soon arranged, and next morning Foster and +Pete set off. They went south by hill-tracks, for Foster meant to +visit the Garth, but preferred to arrive when dusk was falling. He did +not want his visit to be marked, but must see Alice before he embarked +upon his new adventure. + +The sun was setting behind the moors when they came down the waterside, +and leaving Pete in the gloom of the fir wood, he walked through a +shrubbery to the house. He had seen nothing to indicate that he was +watched and could trust Pete to see that nobody followed him from the +road, but he meant to take precautions and did not want to meet +Featherstone. When he left the shrubbery he had only a few yards of +open lawn to cross and the light was dim beside the house, but he kept +off the graveled terrace until he was abreast of the door. He was now +faced by a difficulty, but must leave something to chance and felt +relieved when John answered his quiet knock. The man showed no +surprise at seeing him. + +"Mr. Featherstone is out, sir, and Mrs. Featherstone occupied, but Miss +Featherstone is at home," he said. + +"Will you ask her if she can meet me for a few minutes in the orchard?" + +"Very good, sir; I will take your message." + +Foster turned away. He had given John no hint to keep his visit +secret, because this would be useless. If the old fellow thought it +his duty to tell his master, he would do so; if not, one could trust to +his discretion. Entering the orchard by an arch in a mossy wall, he +waited where a soft light shone into it from the west. Outside the +arch, the smooth sweep of lawn ran back into deepening shadow and the +bare trees behind it rose, sharp and black, against the sky. Above +there was a heavy bank of gray-blue clouds. + +Then his heart began to beat as Alice appeared in the arch. Her figure +was silhouetted against the light and he noted how finely she held +herself and moved. Still he could not see her face and waited with +some uneasiness until she advanced and gave him her hand. + +"I hoped you would come," he said. "But I was half afraid----" + +Alice smiled and as she turned her head the fading glow touched her +face. It gave no hint of resentment or surprise. + +"That I would not come?" she suggested. "After all, I really think men +are more conventional than we are. But why did you not let John bring +you in?" + +"When I was last here, I noted a change in your father's manner. That +is one reason, though there are others. Then I must go in two or three +minutes." + +Alice looked at him steadily and he knew that frankness was best. + +"You mean you thought he had lost his confidence in you?" + +"I was afraid he might find it getting strained. He seemed disturbed." + +"He is disturbed," Alice said quietly. "We have heard nothing from my +brother yet." + +"One can sympathize with you, but I don't think you have much ground +for uneasiness. Lawrence was told he must be careful, but that was +all, and there's no likelihood of his health's suddenly breaking down. +Then I understand he was rather irregular about writing home; he forgot +now and then." + +"He did forget," Alice agreed and fixed her eyes on Foster while a +slight flush crept into her face. "Perhaps I had better say I do not +altogether share my father's anxiety." + +Foster felt a thrill, for he thought she meant she had not lost her +confidence in him. + +"I'd like to go back and look for Lawrence, but can't do so yet," he +said. "For one thing, it might put Daly on his track and it's now +important that he shouldn't meet Lawrence in Canada. There have been +developments; in fact, I have come to think Daly had something to do +with sending the packet I took to Newcastle." + +"Then Miss Austin was in the plot against my brother and made use of +you?" + +"No; she certainly made use of me, but I imagine others made use of +her. There is a plot, but I don't relieve she knew anything about it." + +"I suppose you feel you must defend the girl?" + +"In a way," Foster agreed. "Carmen Austin is a friend of mine; but I'm +not sure she really needs defending. Anyhow, if I'd known what was in +the packet, I wouldn't have taken it." + +"Then you have found out what was in it?" + +"I have a suspicion. I'm going to see how far it's justified, and if +I'm fortunate, rather think the people who sent me to Newcastle will be +sorry." + +Alice said nothing for a few moments, but he thought she grasped the +significance of his hint that he was willing to spoil the plans of +Carmen's friends. He did not know if this gave her any satisfaction, +but did not expect her to show her feelings. + +"Can you tell me anything more?" she asked. + +"Yes," he said. "I feel I ought to tell somebody, because it may turn +out rather a serious undertaking. One reason for choosing you is that +it's a complicated and unlikely tale." + +"And you thought I would believe where others might doubt?" + +Foster bowed. "I did hope something of the kind. I don't know if I +was too venturesome. But if you'll listen----" + +She gave him a curious look and he began by telling her of the tragedy +at the Hulton mill and Lawrence's meeting the supposititious watchman. +Then he related how he had been tracked through the hills, and +explained the conclusions he had arrived at when the light first dawned +on him as he puzzled out the matter by the peat stack. She said +nothing until he finished, but he thought she looked somewhat moved. + +"But wouldn't it be better to leave the thing to the police?" she asked. + +"No," said Foster, smiling. "To begin with, they might suspect me; one +understands they're not very credulous people and it would take some +time to prove my statements. Then, if they weren't very careful, +they'd frighten the Newcastle man away, while I might, so to speak, +catch him off his guard." + +"It sounds plausible; but I think you have a better reason." + +"If I have, it's to some extent temperamental; a natural reaction after +leading a sober life," Foster said humorously. "There's a charm in +trying to do something that's really beyond your mark and ought to be +left to somebody else." + +"It's possible; but I'm not satisfied yet." + +Foster hesitated. "After all, it might be better to keep the police +off Daly's track until I've seen him. He might make trouble for +Lawrence if he was arrested, but I don't think this counts for much. +You would be nearer the mark if you took it for granted that I'm +naturally rash and can't resist a chance of adventure." + +They had walked round the orchard, and reached the arch again, but +Alice stopped. + +"So it seems," she said in a quiet voice that nevertheless gave a +Foster a thrill. "The charm of rashness is a favorite subject of +yours." + +"It's better that your friends should understand you," Foster replied +modestly. + +"One must admit that you live up to the character you give yourself. +First you plunged into difficulties to keep a promise you should not +have made, then you undertook to baffle a dangerous man because your +partner needed help, and now I think you are going to face a very +serious risk." + +Foster, who felt embarrassed, said nothing, and Alice gave him her hand. + +"I am glad you have been frank with me, and if my wish can bring you +good fortune, it will be yours. You will do your best, I know; but be +careful and come back safe!" + +Foster had kissed her hand on another occasion, but durst not do so +now. He was conscious of a keen emotional stirring and thought the +girl felt some strain. There was a hint of suppressed feeling in her +voice that sapped his self-control, and he thought it was because she +trusted and liked him her manner had a certain touch of pride. + +"After all, I don't think I run much risk," he answered. "But if there +was a risk, it would be well worth while." + +It was nearly dark, but he thought he saw some color in her face. + +"Good luck! But wait in the road for a minute or two," she said and +turned away. + +He watched her cross the lawn until her figure faded into the gloom, +after which he went back to the gate and waited until John came up with +a small packet. + +"Miss Featherstone sends you this, sir, but hopes you won't open it +until you are in the train." + +Foster thanked him and went back with Pete up the waterside. The air +was keen and a light mist hung about the rough track that took them to +the moors. There was a beat of wings as a flock of wild duck passed +overhead when they skirted a reedy pool, and once or twice the wild cry +of a curlew came out of the dark. Except for this, the moor was silent +and desolate, but Foster felt a strange poignant elation as he stumbled +among the ruts and splashed across boggy grass. They walked for two or +three hours and he was muddy and rather wet when the lights of a small +station began to twinkle in the gloom ahead. + +Half an hour later they caught a train to Hexham, and Foster, who sent +Pete to a smoking compartment, was alone when he opened the packet John +had brought. Then the blood rushed to his face and his heart beat, for +when he unfolded the thin paper he saw a small white glove. +Remembering how they had once talked about Border chivalry, he knew +what Alice meant. She believed his tale and knew the risks he ran, and +had sent him her glove that he might carry it as her badge. He folded +the piece of delicate kid carefully and put it in a pocket where it +rested upon his heart. + +"After this, I've got to put my job over, whatever it costs," he said. + + + + +XVI + +A DIFFICULT PART + +It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Foster stopped in front of +the grimy building where Graham had his office, and looked up and down +the street. Close by, a carter stood at the head of an impatient horse +that stamped and rattled its harness, and a hoist clanked as a bale of +goods went up to a top story; but except for this the street was quiet +Farther off, one or two moving figures showed indistinctly, for rain +was falling and the light getting dim. Foster, who had arrived in +Newcastle that morning, had waited, thinking it might suit him better +to leave the town in the dark. + +"Go back to the end of the street, where you can see the clock," he +said to Pete. "If I don't join you in half an hour, run to the nearest +police station and ask for a man to search the top office in this +building." + +"The polis are no' good friends o' mine," Pete replied doubtfully. "I +would sooner come for ye my lane. There's an airnmonger's roon' the +corner, where I would maybe get a shairp gairden fork." + +Foster laughed. Pete's methods were too primitive, although, in his +strong hands, the fork would prove a dangerous weapon. + +"I don't expect you'd be able to help much if I'm not back when I said. +But you can walk along the street now and then, and notice anybody who +leaves the building." + +He went in and set his lips as he climbed the stairs, for he imagined +he would need all the tact and coolness he possessed. He had been made +the tool of people who thought him an unsuspecting simpleton, but was +uncertain how far it would be safe to trade upon this view of his +character, although he meant to do so to some extent. There might be +an advantage in hinting that he knew a little about their business; but +he must make no mistakes. His steps echoed hollowly along the top +landing and there was something daunting in the gloom, for the gas had +not yet been lighted and the building was very quiet. It was possible +that he had started on this adventure with a rashness as great as his +folly in undertaking Carmen's errand, but he carried Alice +Featherstone's glove and it was unthinkable that he should turn back. + +There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after +he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in +and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room. Sitting down, he +offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some +surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another. It would +be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke. Graham +pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being +disturbed. He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and +Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything +else. + +"I'm rather busy just now," he said. "For all that, if I can be of any +use to you, Mr. ----" + +Foster thought he overdid it by pretending to forget his name, but he +smiled. + +"Foster. You'll recollect I brought you a packet, and as I'm going +back to Canada soon, I imagined I might take Miss Austin or Daly a +reply. You can see that they thought me a reliable messenger." + +"Miss Austin obviously did so," Graham admitted. + +"Doesn't this imply that Daly shared her good opinion?" Foster asked. + +Graham glanced at him sharply and then picked up a letter and studied +it, but Foster imagined he wanted time to think. He had made the +plunge and indicated that he knew more than the other supposed; but the +rest needed care. + +"You expect to meet Daly when you get back to Canada?" Graham inquired, +and Foster, who saw that he was cautious, wondered whether he was +alarmed. + +"Oh, no; I expect to meet him before I start." + +"You imply that he's in England." + +"Don't you know he is?" Foster rejoined. + +Graham knocked the ash off his cigarette and looked at him curiously. +His appearance was commonplace, he had a slight stoop, and was not +muscular, but Foster felt he might prove dangerous. + +"I don't know where he is just now. Do you?" + +"Well," said Foster, "I believe I could find him if I tried." + +The other was silent for the next few moments and Foster waited with +some anxiety. If he pretended to know too much, he might be found out, +but if Graham imagined he knew nothing, he would hesitate about +informing him. The difficulty was that while he played the part of a +simpleton who had been made use of by the rest of the gang, he must +imply that they had to some extent taken him into their confidence. + +"To tell the truth, I haven't heard from Daly for a month," Graham +replied. "This has disadvantages and I'll own that I'd like to know +what he is doing." + +"Then it looks as if I was better informed. Mr. Daly's engaged in some +private business." + +"Private business?" + +"Just so," Foster answered, smiling. "He imagines it will turn out +profitable, but I expect it will take up much of his time." + +"But----" said Graham, and stopped. + +Foster made a sign of comprehension. "You feel he oughtn't to have any +business that might interfere with his duty to the rest of you?" + +"What do you know about his duty?" Graham asked. + +"Well," said Foster, "I frankly don't know very much. In fact, it +looks as if your Canadian friends didn't trust me very far, but just +told me enough to make me understand my job. No doubt, that was +wisest, although it's not flattering. Anyhow, I brought you a packet +with some valuable enclosures, which ought to justify your sending back +any confidential message to the people it came from by me." + +He had made a bold venture, but saw that he was right, for Graham +knitted his brows, as if he was thinking hard. Then he said, "Very +well. As it happens, there are some papers I would like to send, and +if you don't mind taking them, I'll give you a letter to Daly and +another to Miss Austin." + +"Miss Austin, of course, will pass the letter on." + +"That's understood," Graham agreed. + +Foster carelessly lighted a fresh cigarette, and Graham, leaning +forward, opened a safe and took out one or two papers that Foster could +not see well. So far, the latter had done better than he had hoped, +and in another few minutes would be in the possession of papers that +might throw a useful light upon the plot. Yet the strain was beginning +to tell and his nerves tingled as he watched his companion write. + +A lamp with a broken mantle flickered above Graham's head and the stove +crackled, but the outer office, the door of which was open, was dark, +and the building was strangely quiet. No sound rose from the narrow +street below, which ran like a still backwater among the tall +warehouses. Foster, putting his hand in his pocket as if to feel for +matches, touched the small Browning pistol he had brought. He was not +afraid of Graham, but somebody might come in. At length the man sealed +two envelopes and put them beside his writing-pad. + +"If you cannot find Daly, you must bring the first back to me. When do +you sail?" + +"I don't know yet; I haven't looked up the steamship companies' +notices," Foster answered, and as soon as he had spoken saw that he had +made a mistake. + +He had led Graham to believe he was going at once; indeed, this was his +excuse for offering to take a message, but he remembered that in order +to get a good room on a fast boat it was necessary to book one's +passage some time in advance. He thought Graham had marked the slip, +although his face was expressionless. + +"I don't want the letters carried about for long," he said. + +"Certainly not," Foster agreed. "If I'm delayed, or can't get hold of +Daly as soon as I thought, I'll bring them back. However, I've kept +you from your business and must get off." + +Graham did not move, and the letters were out of Foster's reach. + +"You have got your instructions from Gascoyne and know what to do if +you have any trouble on your journey?" + +Foster felt embarrassed. He did not know if Gascoyne was the man he +had gone to in Edinburgh, and durst not risk a fresh mistake. Besides, +it was possible that there was not such a person among the other's +friends and the question was a trap. + +"No," he said boldly. "I can get all the instructions that are needful +when I meet Daly. Give me the letters." + +"I think not. It would be better to wait until we hear what Gascoyne +has to say, since you haven't seen him as I thought. He may have +something to send with the other documents. Suppose you come back +about this time to-morrow." + +Foster feared he was found out, and imagined that if he agreed, he +would find the office closed and Graham gone; unless perhaps the fellow +waited for him with one or two of his accomplices. Foster was certain +he had accomplices. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he +carried Alice Featherstone's glove and meant to get the letters. + +"No," he said. "I'm willing to do you a favor, particularly as I want +something to show my friends in Canada that I brought the packet safe. +But I'm not going to put myself to much inconvenience. You have +written the letters. Let me have them; I must catch my train." + +He put his hand on the Browning pistol and was glad to feel it there, +though he hardly thought he would be forced to draw it. He was +physically stronger than Graham, but it had come to a trial of nerve +and he knew he had a cunning antagonist. Besides, he could not tell +how much longer they would be left alone and he might be in serious +danger if somebody else came in. Still, he must not look anxious and +quietly fixed his eyes on Graham's face. + +"I can't take the risk," the latter declared. "Will you wait until I +see if I can get Gascoyne on the telephone?" + +The telephone was in the other office and Foster durst not let the man +out of his sight. + +"I've been here long enough and have just time to get to the station." + +There was silence for a few moments and Foster felt his heart beat. He +meant to finish the interview as it had begun, without doing anything +unusual, but if this was impossible, he had another plan. His muscles +were stiffened ready for a spring; he would pin the fellow to his desk +while he seized the letters. Though he meant to look calm, his face +got very grim; but Graham carelessly pushed the letters towards him. + +"Very well! You will take the responsibility if there's any trouble." + +"I will," said Foster, as coolly as he could, and picked up the +envelopes. "Sorry if I've detained you. Good afternoon." + +He was half afraid to turn his back to the other, but there was no +avoiding this and he heard no suspicious movement until he reached the +door. Then, as he expected, the telephone bell rang, and Foster, +running down the steps, drew a breath of relief when he reached the +street. It was now dark, but he felt comforted as he saw Pete's tall +figure in the gloom. + +"Look behind you now and then and tell me if anybody follows us," he +said, and knowing that Pete's eyes could be trusted, carefully reviewed +the situation when they turned into a busy street. + +It was obvious that the conclusions he had come to by the peat-stack +were correct, and the police, who were obviously watching him, thought +he might know something about the Hulton tragedy. If so, his movements +had not been calculated to allay their suspicions. He had now papers +that were probably dangerous in his pocket, and it he were caught +before he got rid of them, it would be difficult to prove his +innocence. The safe line would be to make for the nearest police +station and give up the documents. So long as he kept them, he had as +much to fear from the police as from Daly's gang. But he did not mean +to give them up just yet. + +His duty to the State was plain, but he was frankly determined to save +his comrade first, and imagined that he could do so, although the thing +would be difficult. For all that, Daly must be forced to keep +Lawrence's secret. Then he had, to some extent, discredited Daly with +his accomplice by informing Graham that he was engaged upon some +profitable private business. It looked as if Graham did not know what +the fellow's object was; after all, the gang might not trust each other +very far. The trouble was that Daly might not be easily found, and in +the meantime Foster had two dangers to guard against; but he meant to +be careful, and to tell the police all he knew as soon as he had dealt +with Daly. + +Nothing indicated that they were followed on their way to the Central +Station, where Foster left Pete outside and ascertained that a train +would shortly start for Carlisle. He would have liked to travel by it, +since he expected to find Daly near the western Border. Besides, it +was prudent to leave Newcastle as soon as he could, since his injured +hand made him easily distinguishable and Graham had run to the +telephone. The latter would not have let him take the papers without a +struggle had he not some plan of getting them back. Foster did not +know how many accomplices Graham had, but imagined he had to deal with +a well-organized gang, who would find it much easier to watch the +railway than the lonely moors between it and the Cheviots. Making his +way through a crowd on a busy platform, he left the station by another +door, where he met Pete, whom he had sent round. It was possible that +these precautions were needless, but he did not mean to take any risk +he could avoid. + +"Where will ye be for the noo?" Pete asked. + +"The head of Liddesdale, to begin with. But I don't know yet if we'll +go west by the old military road, or across the moors. It will depend +upon whether the fellow I went to see gets upon my track." + +Pete's eyes twinkled. "It will be a clever man who tracks us when we +tak' the heather. But have ye the papers ye went tae steal?" + +"I have. If they're what I think and I can keep them safe until I use +them, they're worth twenty pounds to you." + +"Aweel," said Pete, "I'll feel mair sure o' the money when we win oot +o' the toon. It's ower full o' polls, and my talents are no' o' much +use here." + +They had left the station and reaching a street where Foster made some +inquiries, waited in the door of an office building until a tram-car +came up. Getting in, they were carried through the wet and smoky +streets towards the city's western outskirts. + + + + +XVII + +THE LETTERS + +The sky had cleared when Foster left the car at the end of the line and +headed towards open country. On the whole, he thought he was fortunate +to get out of Newcastle safe, because there were grounds for believing +that Graham had found out the trick. If this were so, he would +certainly try to recover the documents. On the surface, it seemed +strange that the fellow had let him take them away; but, when one came +to think of it, as soon as he had written and sealed the letters he was +helpless. + +In order to keep them, he would have had to overpower Foster, for which +he had not the physical strength, while any noise they made in the +struggle might have brought in help. Then supposing that Graham had by +some chance mastered him, he would not have gained much, because Foster +would have gone to the police when he got away. It was, of course, +absurd to think that Graham might have killed him, since this would +have led to his arrest. He had accordingly given up the letters, but +Foster felt he was not safe yet. He might be attacked in some cunning +way that would prevent his assailants being traced. It depended upon +whether the documents were worth the risk, and he would know this soon. + +In the meantime he was entering a belt of ugly industrial country. Now +and then the reflected glare of a furnace quivered in the sky; tall +chimney-stacks and mounds of refuse showed faintly in the dark, and he +passed clusters of fiercely burning lights and dull red fires. He +supposed they marked pithead banks and coke-ovens; but pushed on +steadily towards the west. He wanted to put some distance between +himself and Newcastle before he stopped. + +After a time a row of lights twinkled ahead and, getting nearer, he saw +chimneys, dark skeleton towers of timber, and jets of steam behind the +houses. It was a colliery village, and when he passed the first lamps +he vacantly noticed the ugliness of the place. The small, grimy houses +were packed as close as they could be got, the pavement was covered +with black mud, and the air filled with acrid smoke. Presently, +however, he came to a pretentious hotel, built of glaring red brick and +ornamented with sooty paint. He wondered what accounted for its being +planted there; but it offered shelter for the night and he went in. + +He admitted that he had slept in worse places than the room he was +shown, although it looked far from comfortable, but the supper he got +was good, and he afterwards entered a small room behind the bar. There +was a bright fire, near which he sat down when Pete went away. The +strain he had borne had brought its reaction; he felt tired and slack. +There was another room across the passage, and he smelt rank tobacco +and heard voices speaking a harsh dialect and the tramp of heavy boots +on boards. The door was open and men with curiously pale faces that +did not look clean passed now and then. Foster thought they were +colliers and he had nothing to fear from them. + +He had two or three companions, who sat round a small table and seemed +by their talk to belong to a football committee. The landlord treated +them with some deference, as if they were important people, but Foster +wished they would go. He wanted to examine the letters, but thought it +safer to wait until he was alone, since inquiries might afterwards be +made about him. At length the footballers went way, and shutting the +door, he turned his chair so that he could see anybody who came in, +without looking round. It was satisfactory to note that the table +would be between him and a new-comer. + +Before opening the letters, he tried to recollect what had happened in +Graham's office. The fellow sat in front of a desk with a row of +pigeon-holes and sides that prevented Foster's noting exactly what he +did after he began to write. In consequence, Foster could not tell if +he had put anything except the letters in the envelopes, although he +had taken some papers from the safe. It looked as if Graham had not +meant him to see and had not trusted him altogether from the beginning. +Now he probably knew he was an impostor, although this was not quite +certain. Foster took out the envelopes, and broke the seal of the +first, which was addressed to Daly, without hesitation. + +It contained a tourist agency's circular cheque for a moderate sum, +payable by coupons at any of the company's offices in England and +Canada, and Foster saw the advantage of this, because, as the offices +were numerous, one could not tell where the coupons would be cashed. +Then he found a letter, which he thought bore out his conclusions, +although, on the surface, it did not tell him much. It stated that +Jackson's business had been satisfactorily transacted in Berlin, but +the Hamburg matter had not been arranged yet. Lascelles had had some +difficulties in Paris, but expected to negotiate a sale. + +Foster carefully folded the papers and replaced them in his pocket. +The names were probably false, but they stood for agents of the gang, +whose business was, no doubt, the sale of the stolen bonds. He +remembered Percival, the treasurer's, statement that the securities +might be disposed of on a Continental bourse, and Hulton's reluctance +to advertise their loss. Well, he now had proof that Daly was, at +least, a party to the theft, and ground for believing him to be open to +a more serious charge. The fellow was in his power. + +He, however, hesitated a moment before opening the letter to Carmen. +He was half-afraid of finding her to some extent implicated in the +plot; and it was with relief he saw nothing but another envelope inside +the first, which he threw into the fire. The enclosed envelope was +addressed to a man he did not know, and he thought Carmen's part would +be confined to giving it to her father, or somebody else, who would +pass it on. Tearing it open, he found a cheque on an American bank for +a thousand dollars, but the payee's name was different from that on the +cover. Foster put it away and lighted his pipe. + +Some of the bonds had obviously been sold and there were a number of +men in the plot, though it was possible that they did not know all +about the Hulton tragedy. Foster understood that one could dispose of +stolen securities through people who would undertake the dangerous +business without asking awkward questions, if the profit were high +enough. Still he thought Graham knew, and this would give him an +incentive stronger than his wish to save the money for trying to get +the letters back. Indeed, Foster imagined that he was now in serious +danger. Graham's run to the telephone had alarmed him. + +Nobody came in and by degrees the room across the passage got quiet as +its occupants went away. It was some relief that the noise had +stopped, but Foster liked to feel that there were people about. He was +tired and began to get drowsy as he lounged in front of the fire, but +roused himself with an effort, knowing he ought to keep awake. For all +that, he did not hear the door open, and got up with a start as a man +came in. Then his alarm vanished for Pete stood looking at him with a +sympathetic twinkle. + +"I ken what ye feel," the latter remarked. "It's like meeting a keeper +when ye hae a hare in the lining o' yere coat." + +"Yes," said Foster, "I expect its something like that. But where have +you been?" + +"Roon' the toon, though it's no' verra big or bonnie. Then I stopped a +bit in the bar o' the ither hotel. Sixpence goes some way, if ye stick +to beer." + +"I hope you didn't say much if there were strangers about." + +Pete grinned. "I said a' I could; aboot the sheep and bullocks we were +going to look at up Bellingham way; but, if it's only comfort, there's +no strangers in the place but a commaircial who deals with the grossers +and anither who got a good order from the colliery. Maybe that's worth +the money for the beer!" + +"It certainly is," Foster agreed. "We'll have a reckoning at the end +of the journey, but here's your sixpence." Then he looked at his +watch. "Well, I think it's late enough to go to bed, and you can order +breakfast. We had better get off as soon as it's light." + +"There's a train to Hexham at nine o'clock, the morn. It might suit ye +to start for the station, even if ye dinna' get there." + +"No," said Foster thoughtfully. "We'll pull out by some by-road before +that. You see, the train comes from Newcastle." + +He went to his room, which was next to Pete's, and after putting the +letters under his pillow quietly moved a chest of drawers against the +door. The lock was a common pattern and could probably be opened by a +key from any of the neighboring rooms. He was half-ashamed of this +precaution, but admitted that he was getting nervous. Hitherto he had +found some amusement in leaving a trail for his pursuers, but there was +a difference now. For all that, he slept soundly until he was awakened +by a noise at the door. It was dark and somebody was trying to get in. +Seizing his pistol, he leaned on one elbow, ready to spring out of bed, +and then felt keen relief as he heard Pete say, "Dinna' keep on +knocking! Leave the hot water outside." + +"Yes; put it down, thanks," said Foster, who got up, feeling angry with +himself. + +It looked as if the person outside had been knocking for some time, and +the landlord's curiosity might have been excited had he heard that his +guest had barricaded his door. Dressing by gaslight, he found +breakfast ready when he went down, and day broke soon after the meal +was over. Foster paid his bill and set off with Pete, taking the main +road west until they reached the end of the village, where some men +were working on a colliery bank. Pete indicated a lane that branched +off to the north. + +"Yon's our way, but I'm thinking we'll gang straight on for a bit." + +They followed the main road until the men were out of sight, and then +crossing some fields, turned into the lane they had passed, which rose +steadily to higher ground. After a time they found another road +running straight towards the west. This was the old military road, +made when the Romans built the Pict's wall, and long afterwards +repaired by General Wade, who tried to move his troops across to +intercept Prince Charlie's march. Foster sat down for a few minutes at +the corner and looked back at the distant chimney-stacks and trails of +smoke. + +The railway and the road by which the main traffic went followed the +valley of the Tyne, but the military road kept to the edge of the bleak +moors. He gathered from the map that it was, for the most part, +lonely, and thought Graham would expect him to go by train; the latter +probably knew enough about him to anticipate his making for Liddesdale, +and as there were not many trains running north from Hexham, would +reckon on his traveling by Carlisle. If this were so, and he was being +looked for, his pursuers would now be in front of him instead of +behind, and he saw some advantage in keeping them there. Still he must +not lose much time in finding Daly; for one thing, it would be awkward +if the police arrested him while he had the checks in his pocket. All +the same, he meant to visit the Garth, tell Alice he had been +successful, ask is she had news of Lawrence, and try to overcome +Featherstone's suspicions. Then, if Lawrence had not written yet, he +must go back to Canada as soon as he had seen Daly. + +Beyond this Foster's plans were vague; he did not know, for example, +how he could force Daly to keep Lawrence's secret, without promising to +withhold evidence that would bring the man to justice. But he might +find a way and was tired of puzzling about the matter. In a sense, he +had taken a ridiculous line from the beginning and perhaps involved +himself in needless difficulties. His partner, however, must be +protected, and in the meantime he had two objects; to avoid the police +and Graham. + +"Perhaps we had better keep the military road until we strike the North +Tyne," he said to Pete. "Then, if nothing turns up to prevent it, we +might risk stopping for the night at Hexham." + +Having the day before them, they set off at a leisurely pace. The air +was cold but still, and bright sunshine shone upon the tableland, which +rolled north, rising steadily towards distant snow-streaked hills. +Nothing suspicious happened, and late in the afternoon they came down +into the valley of the North Tyne and turned south for Hexham. As they +did so they passed an inn and Foster stopped. They were some distance +from Hexham and he felt hungry, while the inn looked unusually +comfortable. He was tempted to go in and order a meal, but hesitated, +for no very obvious reason. + +"We'll wait and get dinner when we make Hexham," he said, setting off +again. + +A thin wood, separated from the road by a low fence, ran between them +and the river. The light was faint among the trees, the road narrow, +and presently they heard a car coming towards them. It was going very +fast and when it lurched across an opening in the hedge round a bend +Foster put his hand on the fence and swung himself over. Pete followed +silently, but when they stood in the shadow among the dry undergrowth +Foster felt annoyed because he had yielded to a half-instinctive +impulse. He must, of course, be cautious, but there was no reason for +overdoing it. + +Next moment, the car, which swung towards the fence as it took the +curve, dashed past, and Foster set his lips as he saw Graham, who +seemed to be gazing up the road. Then the car vanished among the +trees, and Pete looked at him curiously. + +"Is yon the man frae Newcastle ?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Foster grimly; "I rather think we were just in time. It's +very possible that he'd have run over me if I'd been in the road. An +accident of that kind would have suited him well. But I thought I was +a fool for jumping." + +Pete nodded. "I ken! When ye feel ye must do a thing, it's better +just to do it and think afterwards." Then he raised his hand. "She's +stopping!" + +The throb of the engine suddenly slackened, as if the driver had seen +the inn, and Foster got over the fence. + +"It's lucky we didn't stop for a meal; but, although it may be risky, +I'm going back." + +They kept along the side of the road, where the ground was soft, but +Foster was ready to jump the fence if the car returned; the noise would +give him warning enough. After a few minutes they stopped and waited +in the gloom of a hedge, where they could see the inn. The car stood +in the road and it was empty. Graham had obviously gone in to make +inquiries, and Foster wondered whether anybody had seen him and his +companion pass. He would know when Graham came out, and moved a few +yards farther until he reached a gate, which he opened, ready to slip +through. There was no need to warn Pete now the latter understood +matters. One could trust a poacher to hide himself quickly. + +Foster felt some strain. It was disturbing to find Graham already on +his track and he wondered whether the fellow had been to Carlisle. It +would be awkward if he went to Hexham. After a few minutes two men +came out of the inn and Foster waited anxiously while one cranked the +car, but they drove on when the engine started. Then, as he turned +back, the throbbing stopped again and he beckoned Pete. + +"They don't know you and it's getting dark. Go on and see which way +they take." + +He kept close to the hedge when Pete vanished. The car had stopped +where the military road cut across another that followed the river into +the moors, and Graham apparently did not know which to take. It looked +as if the fellow had ascertained that he was not at Hexham. After a +time he heard the car start. It was not coming back, but he could not +tell which way it went, and waited in the gathering dark for Pete's +return. + +"They'd gone before I cam' up, but I heard her rattling on the hill to +my left han'," he said. + +"That means they've gone west towards Carlisle." + +"There's anither road turns aff and rins north awa' by Bellingham." + +Foster frowned, because this was the road he meant to take next day, +and if his pursuers did so now, it would be because they expected him +to make for the Garth. They were, however, in front, where he would +sooner have them than behind, and he set off down the valley for +Hexham. He found the old Border town, clustering round the tall dark +mass of the abbey, strangely picturesque; the ancient Moot Hall and +market square invited his interest, but he shrank from wandering about +the streets in the dark. Now he had Graham's checks, he must be +careful; moreover his knapsack and leggings made him conspicuous, and +he went to a big red hotel. + +He sent Pete to an inn farther on, because it seemed advisable that +they should not be seen together, although he would have liked to know +the man was about. After dinner, he sat in a quiet nook in the +smoking-room, reading the newspapers and keeping his gloved hand out of +sight, until it was time to go to bed. + + + + +XVIII + +SPADEADAM WASTE + +About eleven o'clock next morning Foster stopped at the top of a hill +and sitting down on a broken wall lighted his pipe. In front, the +undulating military road ran straight across the high tableland to the +west. To the south, a deep hollow, the bottom of which he could not +see, marked the course of the Tyne. Plumes of smoke rose out of the +valley and trailed languidly across the sky, for the river flowed past +well-cultivated fields, old-fashioned villages, and rows of sooty +cottages that clustered round pithead towers. Human activity had set +its stamp upon the sheltered dale, alike in scenes of quiet pastoral +beauty and industrial ugliness. + +It was different to the north, where the shaggy moors rolled back in +bleak, dark ridges. There were no white farmsteads here; one looked +across a lonely waste that had sheltered the wolf and the lurking Pict +when the Romans manned the Wall, and long afterwards offered a refuge +to outlaws and cattle thieves. Foster's way led through this +desolation, but his map indicated a road of a kind that ran north to +the head of Liddel. He must decide whether he should take it or plunge +into the wilds. + +Since Graham was in front of him, he had probably gone to Liddesdale, +with the object of finding if Foster was at the Garth. If he did not +come back by the road he had taken, he would watch the railway that +roughly followed it across the moors from Hexham, which seemed to close +the latter to Foster and make it dangerous for him to go near the Garth +at all. Nevertheless he meant to see Alice before he looked for Daly, +and he turned to Pete. + +"On the whole, I'd sooner keep off the road. Is there a way across the +heath to the upper Liddel?" + +"I wouldna' say there's a way," Pete answered with a dry smile. "But I +can take ye ower the Spadeadam waste, if ye do not mind the soft flows +and some verra rough traiveling. Then I'll no' promise that we'll win +farther than Bewcastle to-night, an' if there's much water in the +burns, we'll maybe no' get there." + +They struck across a rushy field, crept through a ragged hedge, and +came out upon rough pasture that gradually merged into the heath. A +green bank and a straggling line of stones, some fallen in large masses +and some standing two or three feet high, presently stretched across +their path, and Foster stopped for a few moments. The bank and +moat-like hollow he looked down upon marked the _vallum_; the squared +stones, to which the lime still clung, apparently undetachable, the +_murus_. He was looking at the great rampart a Roman emperor had +built. He understood that it was higher and less damaged farther west +and would have liked to follow it, but he had something else to think +about than antiquities. + +The heath got rougher when they left the wall. Spongy moss grew among +the ling that caught their feet, and the ground began to rise. Looking +at the sun, Foster saw they were not taking as northerly a line as he +had expected, but the back of a bold ridge rose between them and the +west and he supposed Pete meant to follow its other side. They stopped +to eat the food they had brought where a stream had worn away a hollow +in a bank. The sun, striking the wall of peaty soil behind them, was +pleasantly warm. It was a calm day, with slowly-drifting clouds, and +gray shadows streaked the wide, brown waste. + +There was no house in sight and only in one place a few scattered dots +that looked like sheep. Getting out his map, Foster noted that they +were crossing the high neck where the Pennine range slopes down to meet +the southern spurs of the Cheviots. He had seen nothing in Canada +wilder or more desolate than this bleak tableland. + +In the afternoon they toiled up the rise he had noticed in the +distance, winding in and out among soft places and hummocks of the +peat, but when they came to the top there was not the dip to a valley +he had expected. The ground was rougher than before, and the moor +rolled on, rising and falling in heathy undulations. By degrees, +however, it became obvious that they had crossed the water-shed and +were descending, for streams that increased in size crossed their path. +So far, none were deep, but the ravines they ran through began to seam +the gradual slope and Foster understood Pete's remark that something +depended on there not being much water in the burns. + +Looking back after a time, he saw the crest of the moor run up behind +them against the sky, and the next ravine they came to was awkward to +climb down, while he was wet to the knees when he crossed the burn. A +mile farther on, he reached another that was worse and they had to work +back along the crumbling sides of its channel to find a place to cross. +After this their progress was marked by erratic curves, and Foster was +soon splashed with black peat-mud and green slime. By and by they came +to a broad level, shut in by a ridge on its other side, and picked +their way carefully between clumps of rushes and curious round holes +filled with dark-colored water. The ground was very soft and walking +became a toil, but Pete held steadily to his winding course and Foster, +although getting tired, did not lag behind. + +They were some time crossing the bog and when they reached the foot of +the rise, which ran in a long line between them and the west, the light +got dimmer suddenly. A yellow glow that seemed to come from low down +flushed the sky, but the rough slope was dark and the hummocks and +gullies on its side were losing their distinctness. Foster felt +somewhat daunted by the prospect of pushing across the waste after +darkness fell, and doggedly kept level with Pete as they went up the +hill obliquely, struggling through tangled grass and wiry heath. When +they reached the summit, he saw they were on the western edge of the +tableland but some distance below its highest point Though it was +broken by rolling elevations, the ground ran gradually down to an +extensive plain where white mist lay in the hollows. A belt of saffron +light lingered on the horizon, with a half-moon in a streak of green +above, and one or two twinkling points showed, faint and far off, in +the valley. + +"Yon," said Pete, "is Bewcastle dale, and I ken where we'll find a +welcome when we cross the water o' Line. But I'm thinking we'll keep +the big flow in our left han'." + +Instead of descending towards the distant farmsteads, he followed the +summit of the rise, and Foster, who understood that a flow is a soft +bog, plodded after him without objecting. The heather was tangled and +rough, and hid the stones he now and then stumbled against, but it was +better to hurry than be left with a long distance to cover in the dark. +Indeed, as he caught his feet in the wiry stems and fell into holes, he +frankly admitted the absurdity of his adventure, a sense of which +amused him now and then. He was in a highly civilized country, there +were railways and telegraph lines not far off, and he was lurking like +an ancient outlaw among the bogs! It looked as if there must be better +ways of meeting his difficulties, but he could not see one. Anyhow, he +had determined to save his partner, and now, if his plans were hazy and +not very wise, it was too late to make a sweeping change. + +After a time Pete stopped abruptly, and then dropping into a clump of +heather, pointed backwards down the long slope on their right hand. +Foster's sight was good, but he admitted that the poacher's was better, +because it was a minute or two before he saw any ground for alarm. +Although there was some light in the sky, the rough descent was dark +and it was only by degrees he distinguished something that moved across +the heath, below and some distance away. Then he realized that it was +a man, and another became faintly visible. They might be shepherds or +sportsmen, but it was significant that there were two and they seemed +to be ascending obliquely, as if to cut his line of march. He +remembered that as he and Pete had kept the crest of the ridge their +figures must have shown, small but sharp, against the fading light. + +"It's suspicious, but I wouldn't like to say they're on our trail," he +remarked. + +"Ye'll soon ken. Watch the bit scaur." + +Foster saw a faint dark line down the hill, and supposed it was a +gully, torn out of the peat. It ran nearly straight up, crossing the +strangers' indirect course to the summit, and would make a very rough +means of ascent, but if they entered it the men would be out of sight. +He blamed himself for not looking back before but had felt safe in the +wilds, and even now it was hard to believe that the men were following +him. Straining his eyes, he watched them move towards the gully, and +set his lips when they disappeared. It was plain that they meant to +get as close as possible before they were seen. + +He did not move for the next few moments, but his brain was busy. +Graham might have come back down the north road in his car and +afterwards taken to the moors, but it was difficult to understand how +he had found Foster's track. Chance, however, sometimes favored one in +a curious way; the fellow might have found out that he had left the +road and expected him to stop the night in Bewcastle dale. Since +Foster had Pete with him, he was not, in one sense, afraid of Graham. +Although the fellow was, no doubt, dangerous, he was not likely to +force an equal fight. The risk would come if Graham found him alone +and at a disadvantage, when Foster thought it would go hard with him. +This was why he could not have the men on his track, watching for the +right moment to strike. It was, however, possible that the strangers +were police, and he lay in the heath with knitted brows until Pete +touched him. + +"They wouldna' find us easy if we keepit still, but I'm no' for +spending the night among the bents," he said. "I'm thinking we'll try +the big flow and lose them in the mire." + +He rose and crossing the summit started down the incline, while Foster +followed as fast as he could. It would be some time before the others +reached the spot they had left, but the light of the sinking moon +touched the face of the hill and as long as they were moving their +figures could be seen. When they reached the bottom Pete headed west, +and presently stopped at the edge of a wide level space. Tufts of wild +cotton gleamed lividly in the moonlight, and here and there a sparkle +marked a pool, but, farther on, a trail of mist stretched across the +bog. It did not look inviting, and when Pete stopped for a few moments +Foster heard the water bubble through the wet moss in which his feet +sank. + +"The black burn rins on the ither side, and there's just one place +where ye can cross," Pete said thoughtfully. "An old shieling stands +on a bit dry knowe near the middle o' the flow, and I wouldna' say but +we might spend the night there, if it was needful." + +Foster left it to him, although he was not much attracted by the +thought of spending the night in the bog, and Pete moved forward +cautiously. He seemed to be following a track, because he went +straight ahead, tramping through clumps of rushes, and splashing into +pools. Foster noted that the latter were shallow, though he had fallen +into bog-holes that were deep. They tried to move silently, but they +made some noise, and he felt relieved when they plunged into a belt of +mist that would hide them from their pursuers. By the look of the +ground to left and right, he imagined that a stranger who lost the +track would have serious trouble in regaining firm soil, + +When they came out of the mist, however, he began to find the silence +daunting. On the hills one could hear the grouse and plover crying and +the murmur of running water, but an oppressive quietness brooded over +the flow. Nor could he see much except rushes, treacherous moss, and +dully-glimmering pools. By and by, however, a dark mass loomed through +the haze and Pete stopped and looked back. + +For a moment or two Foster heard nothing, and then there was a splash +and a noise, as if somebody was floundering through the rushes. The +sounds were nearer than he had thought possible, and he glanced at his +companion. + +"They're no' traiveling badly and they've keepit the track so far," +Pete remarked. "Maybe ye wouldn'a care to try their speed for the next +two or three miles?" + +"Certainly not," said Foster; "that is, if there's another way." + +"Weel," said Pete, "they're surely nearer than I thought, and might see +where we crossed the burn. There's nought for't but the shieling on +the knowe." + +He went on, and the dark mass ahead grew into a rocky mound covered +with small trees. They were birches, because Foster saw their +drooping, lacelike twigs above the low mist; and the indistinct object +among their stems was the shieling. It was obvious that the hut would +catch the eyes of the men behind if they came close enough, and he +stopped where the ground rose. + +"We'll no' gang in yet," said Pete. + +They skirted the mound, which was larger than Foster thought and broken +by out-cropping rock, and when a thick screen of the birches rose +between them and the building, crept into a nook among the stones. +Foster imagined that the others might search for half the night without +finding them unless they were lucky. Then Pete remarked in a meaning +tone: "There's just the twa, and I hae a good stick." + +Foster smiled. He was tired, wet, and savage, and would have liked to +confront Graham and settle their differences by force; but the matter +could not be treated in this primitive way. He could not shoot the +men, and would be no better off if he overpowered and threw them in the +bog. They would know where he was and would follow him as close as was +safe, while he wanted to shake them off and make them uncertain whether +they were on his track or not. Besides, his antagonists might avoid a +conflict. + +"The thing's too complicated to be straightened out by knocking +somebody down," he said. "But I'm glad I'm not here alone." + +In the meantime, the others were getting nearer, for Foster heard them +splash through the wet moss and stumble among the rushy grass. They +were walking fast, which indicated that they thought themselves some +distance behind the fugitives; but stopped when they saw the birches, +and then came on again cautiously. Foster could not see them until +their blurred figures appeared among the trees. So long as he kept +still there was little chance of his being found. + +The moonlight filtered through the low mist that rose half-way up the +thin birch trunks on the top of the mound, but the shieling stood on a +lower level, and when they went towards it the men's forms got very +indistinct. They vanished, but he knew they had gone in when a pale +stream of light flickered among the trees. + +"A polisman's trick," Pete said in a low voice. "A poacher would not +ha' let ye see the light." + +Foster felt that he must find out who the men were. The thing was +risky, but it was worth trying, and he crawled out from behind the +stones. The rock was rough and wet; his hand plunged into some water +and he scraped his knee, but he made a few yards and then stopped and +lay flat as the light went out. It looked as if the others had heard +him, and he lowered his head until his face was buried in withered +fern. There was silence for a few moments, and then his nerves tingled +as he heard steps; the men, he thought, were coming out to look for +him. He did not move, however, and the footsteps got farther off. By +and by there was a sharp rustle and he cautiously looked up. Two hazy +figures showed among the trees, but it was plain that they were going +away. + +It was impossible to follow them without being heard, and he waited +until Pete joined him. So far as he could judge by the noise they +made, the men were hurrying across the bog. + +"They're awa', but I wouldna' say they'll no' come back," Pete +remarked. "If they dinna' strike the right place, they'll no' find it +easy to cross the burn. She rins in a deep cut an' the bottom's saft." + +"What's likely to happen if they get off the track?" + +"Weel," said Pete, with a chuckle, "it's verra possible they'll stop in +the flow till morning, maybe up to the knees in mire. I dinna' think +there's much reason they should get in deeper, but they might." + +"But suppose they find the way and cross the burn?" + +"Then, if they ken the dale, I would expect them to haud a bit south +for Shopford, where they would find an inn, or maybe west by the +Clattering ford to Canonbie. If they dinna' ken, it's likely they'll +hae to sleep behind a dyke. Noo, however, we'll turn back and gang up +the dale." + +They recrossed the bog and skirted the moor for some time, after which +they went down a long slope and reached a level space of grass and +heath. They followed it north until a light shone ahead and the +barking of dogs indicated that they were approaching a farm. Pete went +in first, and Foster did not know what explanation he gave, but the +farmer told him to sit down when he entered the big, flagged kitchen. +He was not surprised when a woman who came in looked at him curiously, +because he was wet and splashed, and bits of fern and heather stuck to +his clothes, but his hosts asked no questions and presently gave him +supper. + +Soon afterwards he was shown a comfortable room and went to bed, +leaving Pete with the others in the kitchen. Foster was glad to feel +he could be trusted not to tell them too much, although he would, no +doubt, have to satisfy their curiosity to some extent. A hint went a +long way with the reserved Borderers. + + + + +XIX + +ALICE'S CONFIDENCE + +Foster got up late and after breakfast sat by the kitchen fire, +studying his map. He imagined that his pursuers, believing him to be +in front, had crossed the low ground towards the cultivated valley of +the Esk, where they would not have trouble in finding shelter for the +night. Then, if they thought he was making for the Garth, the railway +would take them up Liddesdale. + +He meant to visit the Garth, although this might prove dangerous if +Graham and his companion watched the neighborhood. So long as Pete was +close at hand, the risk might not be great, but Pete could not be with +him always and he thought Graham would stick at nothing to get his +papers back. One of the gang had killed Fred Hulton, and Foster did +not suppose the others would hesitate about getting rid of him, if it +could be done without putting the police on their track. A shot or +stab in the dark would effectually prevent his betraying them, and it +might be made to look like an accident, or perhaps as if he had killed +himself. Foster, as a rule, distrusted anything that looked abnormal +or theatrical, but admitted that he might be in some danger. For all +that, he was going. There was no need for an early start, because he +did not want to arrive in daylight and the distance was not great. +Then he meant to avoid the high roads, and after a talk with Pete +picked out his route across the hills. It was eleven o'clock when they +set off, and they spent an hour sheltering behind a dyke while a +snowstorm broke upon the moor. The snow was wet and did not lie, but +the soaked grass and ling afterwards clung about their feet and made +walking laborious. The sky was gray and lowering and there was a +bitter wind, but they pushed on across the high moors, and when the +light was going saw a gap in a long ridge in front. Foster thought +this marked the way down to the Garth. + +It was nearly dark when they reached the gap, through which a brown +stream flowed, and he could see nothing except dim hillsides and the +black trough of the hollow. Pete said they must follow the water, and +they stumbled downhill among the stones beside the burn. As they +descended, a valley opened up and a rough track began near a sheepfold. +Although it was dark, Foster saw that they were now crossing rushy +pasture, and they had to stop every now and then to open a gate. The +stream was swelling with tributaries from the hills and began to roar +among the stones. Birches clustered in the hollows, the track became a +road, and at length a group of lights twinkled across a fir wood and he +knew the Garth was not far ahead. + +Now he had got there, he almost wished he had kept away. He was not +sure of his welcome and did not know what line to take if Featherstone +showed his doubts. For one thing, he did not mean to talk about his +adventures in Newcastle and on Spadeadam waste. The affair was too +theatrical for the unimaginative country gentleman to believe, and for +that matter, when Foster went up the drive past the well-kept +shrubberies and lawn he found it hard to realize that he had been +hunted by determined men and was now perhaps in danger of his life. +Featherstone, living in his quiet house, could not be expected to +credit such a romantic tale. Graham's letters would to some extent +corroborate his statements, but not unless Featherstone accepted his +surmises as correct; but Foster admitted that after all pride was his +strongest motive for saying nothing. If Featherstone distrusted him, +he must continue to do so until Foster's efforts to help Lawrence were +successful. + +He braced his courage when he rang the bell, but John, who let him in, +did not seem to find anything remarkable in his choice of a companion. +Pete looked very big and rather truculent in his rough, wet clothes, +but he was not embarrassed. + +"This is a friend of mine," said Foster. "I should be obliged if you +will look after him." + +John showed no surprise at his statement. "Very good, sir; I think I +can promise that. Will you give me your coat, sir?" Then he beckoned +Pete. "If you please, come with me." + +He took Pete away and Foster wondered with some amusement what they +thought of one another. A few moments afterwards Alice came in, +dressed with a curious elegant plainness that he thought suited her. +Alice needed no ornaments, and fripperies would have struck a jarring +note. Foster sometimes called her stately, though he felt that this +was not quite what he meant. She had a certain quiet grace, touched +with pride, that he had never noticed about anybody else, although he +admitted that his knowledge of girls like Alice Featherstone was small. +Now, however, she was not as calm as usual, for her eyes had a keen +sparkle and her look was animated. He wondered whether he could +believe this was because she was glad to see him. + +"You have not been long," she said with a welcoming smile. "Have you +succeeded?" + +"On the whole, I think so," Foster answered modestly. + +"That's splendid!" she exclaimed and he could not doubt the approval in +her voice. It sounded as if she meant to applaud him as well as show +her satisfaction with the consequences of his exploit. + +"Well, I haven't got very far yet, although I imagine I'm on the right +line. But have you heard from Lawrence?" + +"No," she replied and her satisfaction vanished. Indeed, Foster was +somewhat puzzled by the change. "I must confess that I'm getting +anxious now." + +Foster nodded, "Then I must go and look for him as soon as I've had a +reckoning with Daly." + +"Daly has been here----" she said and stopped as Mrs. Featherstone came +in. + +The latter looked at Foster rather curiously, but gave him her hand and +seemed to take it for granted that he meant to resume his stay. She +said her husband had gone to dine with a neighbor and would not be back +for an hour or two, and then let Foster go to his room. + +Dinner was served soon after he came down, but while they talked freely +about matters of no importance Foster noted a subtle difference in Mrs. +Featherstone's manner. She was not less friendly than usual, but she +asked no questions about his journey and avoided mentioning Lawrence. +It looked as if she knew her husband's doubts, but Foster somehow +thought she did not altogether share them. In the meantime, he tried +to act as if their relations were perfectly normal, but found it hard, +and now and then glanced at the clock. It was a long way to the +nearest inn and he wondered when Featherstone would return, because he +could not accept the hospitality of a man who distrusted him. + +When dinner was over, he went with the others to the drawing-room and +did his best to engage them in careless talk. Alice supported him when +his efforts flagged, as they sometimes did, and once or twice gave him +a half-amused, half-sympathetic glance. He did not know if he was +grateful for this or not, but saw that she knew what he felt. If Mrs. +Featherstone guessed, she made no sign; she treated him with the +graciousness one would expect from a well-bred hostess, but went no +further. + +It was a relief when Featherstone came in. He made a little abrupt +movement when he saw Foster, to whom he did not give his hand. The +latter thought he looked disturbed. + +"I am sorry I was not at home when you arrived," Featherstone said. +"Still, I had no reason for thinking you would be here." + +"In fact, you were rather surprised to see me," Foster suggested. + +Featherstone looked at him as if he thought he had been blunter than +was necessary, but replied: "Well, I suppose that's true, but I have no +doubt Mrs. Featherstone has made up for my absence, and since you have +come, we would like to talk to you about Lawrence. I dare say you will +give us a few minutes." + +He opened the door as Mrs. Featherstone rose, and Foster went with them +to the library, where Featherstone sat down at a big table. It was +here he wrote his business letters and occasionally attended to +magisterial duties, and Foster thought this was why he had chosen the +place. It, no doubt, gave him a feeling of authority. Mrs. +Featherstone sat by the fire, but Foster was surprised when Alice came +in. Featherstone glanced at her with a frown. + +"It might have been better if you had stayed downstairs and left this +matter to your mother and me," he remarked and waited, as if he +expected his wife to support him, but she did not. + +"No," said Alice; "I am beginning to get anxious about Lawrence, and if +Mr. Foster can tell us anything fresh, I ought to hear it. But I don't +think he can. I believe he told us all he knew before." + +Featherstone looked disturbed by her boldness, but Foster felt a +thrill. Alice was on his side and meant to show the others her +confidence in his honesty. He wondered what Featherstone would do, and +was not surprised when he made a gesture of resignation. Foster knew +his comrade well, and imagined that Featherstone was very like +Lawrence. The latter was physically brave, but sometimes gave way to +moral pressure and vacillated when he should be firm. Both showed a +certain lack of rude stamina; they were, so to speak, too fine in the +grain. Foster, however, had other things to think about, and indeed +felt rather like a culprit brought before his judges. Then Mrs. +Featherstone relieved the unpleasant tension. + +"We have not heard from Lawrence yet and do not understand it. Can you +do anything to set our fears at rest?" + +"I'm sorry I can't," said Foster, and seeing he must deal with the +matter boldly, asked Featherstone: "Have you any ground for believing I +have not been frank?" + +"It is an awkward question. You are our guest and my son sent you to +us. I must add that we had begun to like you for your own sake; but I +have grounds for supposing that you kept something back. To begin +with, Daly, whom you told us you meant to mislead, was here again +yesterday." + +"Did you give way to his demands? It's important that I should know." + +Featherstone hesitated, and Foster saw where his suspicions led, but +for the next moment or two was absorbed by speculations about Daly's +visit. Then Alice looked at her father with a smile. + +"You can tell Mr. Foster. It's obvious that if he was in league with +the fellow he would have no need to ask." + +"I did not give way," said Featherstone. "He must have seen that I was +determined, because after the first I thought he did not press me very +hard." + +"Ah!" said Foster; "that was curious, but we'll let it go in the +meantime. I suppose there is something else?" + +"Since you left, the police have paid me another visit. They asked +some rather strange questions, besides inquiring where you were." + +"Which you couldn't tell them!" + +"I didn't know," Featherstone rejoined pointedly, and Foster saw that +Alice had said nothing about his recent visit. She gave him an +inquiring glance, as if she wondered why he did not state his reasons +for going to Newcastle, but he looked as unobservant as he could. He +could not signal her, because while this might escape his host's notice +he was afraid of Mrs. Featherstone. + +"Well," he said, "it might be better if you, so to speak, formulated +your suspicions and made a definite charge. After all, I'm entitled to +hear it." + +"I do so most unwillingly, but feel an explanation is needed. To begin +with, we had one short letter from my son, stating that he could not +come home but you would tell us how he was getting on. This was all; +he said nothing about Daly, or his starting east with you. You arrived +with his portmanteau and what I now think is a rather curious story. +Then, after Daly wrote, you suggested an extraordinary plan, which, as +the fellow came here, has not worked very well. Besides, the police +have made inquiries about you and there's something mysterious about +your journeys. I do not think they were all intended to mislead Daly." + +"All this is true," Foster admitted. "But you haven't stated the +conclusions you draw from it." + +"The conclusions are vague but disturbing. Lawrence trusted you and, +you tell us, started with you for a place he did not intend to reach. +Since then he has vanished. It is possible that you have deceived both +him and us." + +"That's rather absurd," Alice remarked. "I really don't think Mr. +Foster would make a very dangerous plotter, and you admitted that +Lawrence trusted him." + +"I did," Featherstone rejoined sharply, as if he resented the +interruption. "Still I don't see your argument." + +"She means that Lawrence is not a simpleton," Mrs. Featherstone +interposed. "For myself, I doubt if Mr. Foster could deceive him." + +"We'll go on," Featherstone resumed, turning to Foster. "There was a +very mysterious affair at Gardner's Crossing shortly before you left +and some valuable bonds were missing." + +Foster's face got red, but he laughed. "This is too much, sir! If +your suspicions went so far, why did you not tell the police?" + +"Ah!" said Featherstone with some awkwardness, "there you have me at a +disadvantage! While Daly has the power to injure Lawrence, I must keep +the police in the dark." He paused and added: "I cannot say I believed +you reckoned on this." + +"Thank you," said Foster, but Alice broke in: "Why don't you tell my +father why you went to Newcastle?" + +Featherstone gave her a surprised glance and then turned to Foster. +"It looks as if my daughter were better informed than I. There is +obviously something I do not know about." + +"There is; but I must ask Miss Featherstone to respect my confidence in +the meantime," Foster answered, and getting up, stood silent for a few +moments, resting his hand on his chair. + +He saw restrained curiosity in Mrs. Featherstone's face and her +husband's anger, while he thought Alice knew how significant the line +she had taken looked. She had boldly admitted that he knew her well +enough to trust her with his secrets, and declared herself on his side. +In the meantime, he was conscious of a strain that he thought the +others felt and was sorry for Featherstone. He could not resent the +man's anxiety about his son. For all that, he did not mean to tell him +why he had gone to Newcastle. It would not make a plausible tale. + +"I must own that things look bad for me," he said. "I can't offer any +explanation that would satisfy you and could not expect you to take my +word that I mean well. All I can do is to frighten off Daly and then +find Lawrence, and I'm going to try." + +"It doesn't matter much about Daly now. But if you can find Lawrence, +you will clear yourself." + +Alice turned to her father with an angry sparkle in her eyes. "That's +a very grudging concession for us to make. We will not blame Mr. +Foster when he has proved that it's impossible for him to be guilty!" + +The tension was too great for any of them to be much surprised by her +outbreak and Featherstone said dully, "It's logical." + +"Logical!" Alice exclaimed in a scornful tone. "Do you expect Mr. +Foster to be satisfied with that, after what he has borne and the risks +he has run for us? Now, when things look bad for him, is the time for +you to show your trust and knowledge of character." + +"You imply that your judgment is better than mine?" Featherstone +rejoined, but without heat. + +"I know an honest man," Alice said quietly, with some color in her face. + +There was silence for a few moments and by an effort of self-control +Foster kept his face unmoved. He did not mean to let the others see +the exultant satisfaction the girl's statement had given him. +Featherstone brooded with knitted brows and a troubled look. Then he +said: + +"You will understand, Mr. Foster, that this has been a painful +interview to my wife and me. You were our guest and my son's friend; +but I do not know what has happened and we have no news of him. If you +can bring him back, I will ask your forgiveness for all that I have +said." + +"I will do my best and get to work to-morrow," Foster answered. Then +he bowed to Mrs. Featherstone and Alice, and the girl gave him a look +that made his heart beat as he went out of the room. + +Shortly afterwards he entered the hall, wearing his damp walking +clothes, and met Mrs. Featherstone, who protested against his leaving +them at night. Foster answered that he had no time to lose and +beckoning Pete, who was waiting, went out. Alice had not come down to +bid him good-by, but after all he had not expected this; the meeting +would not have been free from embarrassment. He had much to say to +her, but must wait until he had kept his promise. + +He did not blame Featherstone and rather sympathized with him, but +could not stay at the Garth or come back there until he had cleared up +the mystery about his comrade's silence. Pete did not grumble much +when they went down the drive, but said he had no friends in the +neighborhood and it was a long way to the nearest inn. + + + + +XX + +THE RIGHT TRACK + +It was a clear night and although the moon was low its light touched +the wet road as Foster walked down the dale. He had much to think +about and tried to fix his mind on his main object. It would have been +delightful to dwell upon Alice's interposition on his behalf, but he +must not attach too much importance to this yet; after all she might +have been actuated mainly by a love of justice. Besides, the sooner he +kept his promise, the sooner he would be able to ask her what she had +meant. + +He must find Daly and thought it significant that the fellow's attempt +at extortion had not been very determined. If Featherstone was right +about this, it indicated that Daly suspected that Lawrence was beyond +his reach and had not been at the Garth. It was possible that he had +found out how he had been misled and meant to look for his victim in +Canada. Foster wondered whether he would go without his money, or if +he had received a share of the plunder before, since the circular check +was not for a large sum. In any case, it was lucky that Daly had +visited the Garth when he did, because if he had waited another day, he +might have met Graham, which would have been awkward. + +After some thought, Foster decided to act on the supposition that Daly +would return to Canada. Then, dismissing the matter for the time, he +speculated about the possibility of Graham's lurking in the +neighborhood and began to look ahead. A stone dyke, broken in places, +ran between the winding road and the stream it followed; on the other +side, which lay in shadow, thin birches straggled up a steep hill. The +moon was low and would soon sink behind the trees, when it would be +very dark. When he looked back he could not see the lights of the +Garth. He was on the road to the station, and remembered that there +was a train from the south in the evening. + +Taking out his watch, he calculated that anybody who left the station +on foot when the train arrived might be expected to reach the Garth in +the next quarter of an hour. This was disturbing, but he saw nothing +to cause him alarm as he went on. Now and then a rabbit, startled by +his footsteps, ran across the road, and once or twice an owl hooted as +it fluttered overhead. The river splashed among the stones and +sometimes the shadows moved as a puff of wind came up the valley; but +that was all. Still Foster quickened his pace; it was some distance to +the village where he knew of an inn, and he wanted to get there before +the people went to bed. He would not admit that he shrank from being +left in the dark when the moon sank. + +By and by Pete stopped to relight his pipe and uttered an exclamation +when he put his hand in his pocket. + +"I hae lost the guid pooch ye gave me at Hexham," he said. "I mind I +filled my pipe by the big thorn where the wire fence stops, and the +moon's on the road. If ye'll bide or gang on slowly, I'll rin back." + +"Never mind it. I'll give you another." + +"Na," said Pete. "If ye had been used with an auld tin and had a +smairt pooch for the first time, ye wouldna' lea' it in the road. +Besides, it was fu' o' a better tobacco than I often smoke." + +Foster would sooner have kept him, but was unwilling to admit that he +did not like to be alone. It was not very far to the thorn tree and +Pete would soon overtake him. He went on, but did not loiter, and +noted how his footsteps echoed along the edge of a wood ahead. In +fact, the noise he made rather jarred his nerves, but the grass by the +roadside was hummocky and wet. The road was dark beside the wood, for +the moon was near the tops of the black firs, but there were gaps +through which the silver light shone down. + +As he passed the first of the trees he heard a rattle of wings and +stopped abruptly. Wood-pigeons were fluttering among the branches, and +if he had not disturbed them, there was somebody in the wood. After a +few moments, the sound died away, but he stood listening. He could not +hear Pete coming, and was sorry he had let him go; the road looked +lonely, and he knew there was no house for some distance. Still, if he +had not frightened the pigeons, it might be unsafe to stay where he +was, and he did not mean to turn back. It was better to be cautious, +but he must not give his imagination rein. + +Bracing his courage, he went on, a little faster than before but +without hurrying, and for two or three minutes heard no fresh noise. +The wood ran along the road for perhaps a quarter of a mile and he was +near the middle of it when there was a sharp report and something +flicked against the wall behind him. He sprang aside instinctively, +and then running forward smashed through the rotten fence and plunged +into the wood. The nervous shrinking he had felt had gone. Now he was +confronted with a danger that was not imaginary, he was conscious of +savage anger and a fierce desire to come to grips with his treacherous +antagonist. His fury was greater because of his previous fear. + +The wood was dark and thick. Branches brushed against him and hindered +his progress, crawling brambles caught his feet. He could hear nothing +except the noise he made, and as the fit of rage passed away his +caution returned. He was putting himself at a disadvantage, because +his lurking enemy could hear him and would no doubt try another shot if +he came near enough. Stopping behind a fir trunk, with his finger on +the trigger of the Browning pistol, he listened. At first no sound +came out of the dark, but he presently heard a rustle some distance +off. There was another man in the wood beside the fellow who had fired +at him, but so long as he kept still and the others did not know where +he was, he had an advantage over them. They might expose themselves, +and he was a good shot. + +He would have liked to wait, but reflected that if he killed or +disabled somebody, he would have to justify his action, and he had +compromising papers in his pocket. He did not want to destroy the +checks or tell his story to the police yet. Then he noticed that the +rustling was getting farther away, as if the man was pushing through +the wood towards the moor behind it, and he turned back +half-reluctantly to the road. After getting over the fence, he kept on +the wet grass, and had nearly reached the end of the wood when he heard +somebody running behind him. The moon was now behind the firs and +their dark shadow stretched from fence to wall. It looked as if Pete +had heard the shot and was coming to his help, but Foster kept on until +he was nearly out of the wood, and then stopped, standing against the +fence, a yard or two back from where the moonlight fell upon the road. +There was no use in running an unnecessary risk. + +The steps got nearer; he heard somebody breathing hard, and a figure +appeared in the gloom. Then Foster thrust the pistol into his pocket, +for the man who came into the moonlight was Gordon, whom he had met at +the Edinburgh hotel. + +"Mr. Foster!" he exclaimed breathlessly, but Foster thought he was not +surprised, and sitting on the fence took out a cigarette as calmly as +he could. He had Graham's checks and must be careful. + +"Yes," he said. "I didn't expect to see you." + +"I imagine it's lucky that you knew me," Gordon remarked, rather dryly. +"Well, perhaps we ought to have stopped you at the other end of the +wood." + +"You were watching it then?" + +"Both ends. It's obvious now that we should have watched the middle." + +"Ah," said Foster thoughtfully; "then you knew somebody was hiding +among the trees?" + +"We thought it very possible." + +"Well, you know I was shot at, but I imagine the fellow got away. Do +you mean to let him go?" + +Gordon laughed. "My friends tell me I'm getting fat, and I'm certainly +not so vigorous as I was. Besides, it's not my part of the business to +chase a suspected person across the hills, and I have men able to do it +better than I can. But you stopped as you entered the wood. Did you +expect to be shot at?" + +"I thought it very possible," Foster answered dryly. + +"A fair retort! You were shot at. Were you nearly hit?" + +"I believe the fellow would have got me if he'd used a gun instead of a +pistol; but the former would, of course, have been a conspicuous thing +to carry about." + +"That's true," Gordon agreed. "But, after escaping, why did you stop +here and run the risk again?" + +Foster pondered. There was no sign of Pete, but he thought the latter +could be trusted to elude the police, and did not want to let Gordon +know he had felt it necessary to provide himself with a bodyguard. +Something of this kind would be obvious if he stated that he was +waiting for a companion. + +"Well," he said, "it's annoying to be shot at, and when I heard +somebody running I thought I might catch the fellow off his guard. You +see, I had already gone into the wood to look for him." + +"But you must have known that it would have been very rash for the man +who fired the shot to run noisily down the middle of the road." + +"I suppose I was rather excited and didn't remember that," Foster +replied. + +Gordon said nothing for a few moments and Foster saw that he had been +fencing with him. He had admitted that he had partly expected to be +attacked, and the other knew of the danger to which he had been +exposed. This was puzzling; but it was lucky the man had not asked his +reasons for fearing an attack. Foster believed he had not omitted to +do so from carelessness. + +Then Gordon said, "I must try to find out what my men are doing. Where +are you going to stop tonight?" + +Foster told him and he nodded. "I know the inn and will call there as +soon as I can. Leave your address if you go before I come." + +He went away up the road and Foster, setting off again, had gone about +a mile when he heard steps behind him. Soon after he stopped Pete came +up. + +"Ye're no' hurt?" he asked. + +Foster said he was uninjured, and when he asked where Pete had been the +latter grinned. + +"Up the hill and sitting in a wet peat-hag. There was a polisman who +ran better than I thought an' it wasn'a a'thegither easy getting clear +o' him." + +"But why did the policeman run after you?" + +"Yon's a thing I dinna' exactly ken, but when I was coming doon the +road I heard a shot and saw ye break intil the wood. Weel, I thought +the back o' it was the place for me, and I was follying the dyke, quiet +and saircumspect, when a man jumped ower and took the heather. He had +a stairt, but the brae was steep, and I was thinking it would no' be +long before I had a grup o' him when the polis cam' ower the dyke +behind. Then I thought it might be better if I didna' interfere, and +made for a bit glen that rins doon the fell. When I saw my chance I +slippit oot and found the peat-hag." + +Foster knitted his brows. It looked as if Pete had drawn the police +off his antagonist's track, which was unfortunate; but Gordon had +evidently been watching the fellow, who would now have enough to do to +make his escape. How Gordon came to be watching him required some +thought, but Foster need not puzzle about this in the meantime. That +Graham or his accomplice had thought it worth while to risk shooting +him in order to recover the checks showed Foster that he was on the +right track. Their importance did not depend on their money value; +Graham meant to get them back because they were evidence of a crime. +It was satisfactory to think there was not much probability of the +fellow's meeting Daly, who would have an additional reason for leaving +the country if he heard what had happened. + +After walking some distance, he came to a straggling village, and +although he had to knock for a few minutes was admitted to the inn. +Somewhat to his surprise, Gordon did not follow him, and finding that +there was a train to Carlisle next morning, he gave the name of a hotel +there and went to the station. He had done what Gordon told him, but +did not mean to stop at the hotel long. + +As the train ran down Liddesdale he sat in a corner, thinking. The +fast Canadian Northern boats sailed from Bristol, and Daly might choose +that port if he were suspicious and meant to steal away; but Liverpool +was nearer and there were more steamers to Montreal. Foster thought he +could leave this matter until he reached Carlisle and got a newspaper +that gave the steamship sailings. In the meantime he must decide what +to do with Pete, and admitted that he would be sorry to part with the +man, although he would not be of much help in the towns, and their +companionship might make him conspicuous. + +"I almost think I had better let you go at Carlisle," he said. + +Pete looked rather hard at him, and then asked: "Have I earned my +money?" + +"Yes," said Foster, "you have earned it well." + +"Then, if ye have nae great objection, I'd like to take pairt in the +shape o' a third-class passage to Western Canada, where ye come from. +I hear it's a gran' country." + +"It's a hard country," Foster answered. "You had better not be rash. +There's not much poaching yonder; the game, for the most part, belongs +to the State. and the laws about it are very strict." + +"There's no' that much profit in poaching here; particular when ye pay +a smart fine noo and then. For a' that, I wouldna' say but it's better +than mony anither job, if ye're lucky." + +"You ought to make a good hill shepherd." + +"Verra true, an' I might make a good plooman, and get eighteen +shillings or a pound a week for either. But what's yon for a man's +work frae break o' day till dark? An', mind ye, it's work that needs +skill." + +"Not very much," Foster agreed. + +"Weel," said Pete, rather diffidently, "I thought ye might have some +use for me, if ye've no' finished the business ye are on." + +Foster doubted if Pete could help him much in Canada, since he did not +expect to chase Daly through the woods. The man, however, had been +useful and might be so again; then he had talents which, if rightly +applied, would earn him much more in Canada than five dollars a week. + +"If you mean to come, I'll take you," he said. "If I don't want you +myself, I think I can promise to give you a good start." + +Pete gave him a grateful glance, and Foster was silent while the train +ran down the valley of the Esk. On reaching Carlisle, he went to the +hotel he had named and asked for a room, but did not sign the visitors' +book. He spent the afternoon watching the station, and then went to +the Eden bridge, where the road to Scotland crossed the river. Daly +had a car and might prefer to use it instead of the rather infrequent +trains. + +Foster did not know where the fellow was, but he had been at the Garth +two days ago, and, if Featherstone's firmness had given him a hint, +might before leaving the country revisit Peebles and Hawick, where +Foster had left him the first clew. Daly was not the man to act on a +hasty conclusion without trying to verify it, and Lawrence's suit-case +was still at Peebles. It was possible that he had already gone south, +but there was a chance that he had not passed through Carlisle yet and +Foster durst not neglect it. + +Dusk was falling when he loitered about the handsome bridge. Lights +began to twinkle in the gray bulk of the castle across the park, and +along the Stanwix ridge, which rose above the waterside to the north. +The gleam faded off the river, but it was not quite dark and there was +not much traffic. Daly did not come and Foster, who was getting cold, +had begun to wonder how long he should wait when a bright light flashed +out at the top of the hill across the bridge. + +A car was coming down the hill and Foster stopped behind a tramway +cable-post and took out his pipe as if he meant to strike a match. +Just then a tram-car rolled across the bridge and the motor swerved +towards the spot where he stood. It passed close enough for him to +have touched it, and he saw Daly sitting beside the driver, and two +ladies behind. He could not distinguish their faces, for the car sped +across the bridge and a few moments later its tail light vanished among +the houses that ran down to the river. + +Foster set off after it as fast as he could walk. Daly would not go to +the station, because there was no train south for some time, and the +two hotels where motorists generally stayed were not far off. Still he +might drive through the town, making for Kendal or Lancaster, in which +case Foster would lose him. The car was not in the first garage, and +he hurried to the other, attached to his hotel. He found the car, +splashed with mud which the driver, whom he had seen at Hawick, was +washing off. + +"I want some petrol, and you had better leave me a clear road to the +door," the man said to a garage hand. "I expect we'll be out first in +the morning, because we mean to start as soon as it's light." + +Foster had heard enough, and quickly went away. Daly meant to stop the +night, and he must decide what to say to him. He was moreover curious +about his companions. + + + + +XXI + +DALY TAKES ALARM + +When he returned to the hotel Foster signed the visitors' book, which +he examined. Daly's name was not there, but the last entry recorded +the arrival of Mr. Forbes and two ladies from Edinburgh, and Foster did +not doubt that this was the party he had seen. He next went to the +smoking-room and choosing a quiet corner, lighted a cigarette. Daly +would probably see his name in the book, but this did not matter, +because he meant to seek an interview with the man. Foster did not +think he had met Graham, which gave him the advantage of being able to +make a surprise attack, since Daly would not know about the documents +he carried. + +By and by, however, he began to see the matter in a different light. +Taking it for granted that Daly meant to leave England, it might be +better to let him go. Even if he had not killed Fred Hulton, he had +obviously had something to do with the theft of the bonds, and would be +more afraid of detection in Canada, which would make him easier to deal +with. Besides, his knowledge of Lawrence Featherstone's offense would +be of less use to him there. If Foster could keep him in sight and +sail by the same vessel, he would be able to have the reckoning when he +liked after the ship left port. + +On the whole, he thought this the better plan, but resolved to leave +the thing to chance. If Daly met him or saw his name in the book, he +would deal with the fellow then; if not, he would wait until they were +on board ship. When he went in to dinner he chose a place behind a +pillar, where he was not likely to be noticed, and looked carefully +about. The room was large and occupied by a number of guests, but by +and by he saw Daly at a table near its other end. As he had taken a +prominent place, it looked as if he was not afraid of being seen. He +sat facing Foster, but at some distance, with two ladies on the +opposite side. They were fashionably dressed and one was older than +the other, but that was all Foster could distinguish. + +He had no ground for thinking Daly noticed him during the meal, and did +not see the man for an hour afterwards. Then finding that he wanted a +railway guide he had left in his room, he went up the stairs and along +a corridor. As he did so, he saw a man and woman some distance in +front. The carpet was thick, and it was obvious that the others did +not hear him, because the man put his arm round his companion's waist. +So far as Foster could see, the girl yielded willingly to his embrace, +and not wishing to overtake them he stopped. Next moment they passed a +lamp and he noted that the man was Daly, though he was unable to +distinguish his companion's face. He, however, thought he would know +her dress again. + +Daly's love affairs had nothing to do with him, but in order to save +the girl embarrassment he waited until they opened a door. Foster +imagined it led to a music or drawing-room, but passed without looking +in, and going up a flight of stairs spent some time in his room, +studying the railway guide and a list of steamship sailings. As he +entered the corridor on his way back he saw the girl, who was now +alone, in front. He knew her by her dress and did not mean to overtake +her, but after she had gone a few paces she stopped to pick up +something she had dropped. Since it would look rather marked if he +waited, he went on and was close to her when she heard his steps and +glanced round with a start. Then he stopped as he saw she was the girl +he had first met at Hawick. Although he thought she was embarrassed, +she met him with a smile. + +"It looks as if you had got tired of Edinburgh," she remarked. "Did +you stay there long?" + +"No," said Foster bluntly. "But I wonder whether you did not know that +I had left?" + +"How could I know?" she asked with a look of surprise that he thought +was well done. "Besides, why should I be interested?" + +"You seemed to think it better that I should go away. Anyhow, you gave +me a useful hint, which perhaps warrants my doing as much for you." + +She hesitated, glancing at an open door close by, and then moved +towards it as if she expected him to follow her. Foster did so and +found himself in a small drawing-room, where she sat down on a sofa and +waited for him to speak. Instead he stood opposite, pondering. The +girl was pretty and fashionably dressed, but he had ground for thinking +some of her friends or relatives were dangerous criminals. It did not, +however, follow that she took part in their plots, and although she +obviously knew something about what was going on, he did not believe +she knew it was connected with the tragedy at Gardner's Crossing. He +admitted that he was perhaps giving way to romantic sentiment, but he +was sorry for the girl and thought her Daly's victim. The fellow was +handsome and must have charm, since he had been able to influence +Carmen, who was strong-willed and clever. + +"Well?" she said presently. + +"I saw your name in the book, Miss Huntley, and know whom you came +with. I think you ought to go back to Edinburgh at once and must urge +you strongly not to go to Canada." + +It was plain that she understood him, for the blood rushed into her +face and he saw that she felt some confusion. This seemed to indicate +that she was not a hardened adventuress. + +"To begin with, I am not going to Canada--I did not mean to go," she +said, and her eyes sparkled as she added: "But you are guilty of +intolerable rudeness. Why do you presume to interfere?" + +"I suppose I am rude; I'm certainly unconventional. But you gave me +some advice in Edinburgh and I was grateful, because I saw you meant +well. Can't you believe that I mean well, too?" + +She gave him a quick, half-puzzled, half-nervous glance, but did not +answer, and he resumed: "Anyhow, you would run a greater risk in Canada +than I did in Edinburgh, and you were rash in coming to Carlisle." + +"But I'm not going to Canada!" she broke out. + +"Don't you believe me?" + +"I suppose I must," said Foster. "But I think you ought to go home." + +She laughed, a rather strained laugh. "You are conventional enough to +think I would be safe there. How do you know what kind of a home I +have?" + +"I know nothing about it," Foster admitted. "I find you here with a +dangerous companion and dare say I haven't taken a very tactful line in +trying to warn you. That's all." + +There was silence for the next few moments and he felt sympathetic as +he watched her disturbed face. Her anger had vanished and he thought +she was grappling with doubt and alarm. In the meantime, he was not +free from embarrassment. It was an awkward business, and he had not +managed it very well. Then she got up and stood looking at him calmly. + +"You have gone too far, in one sense, but not far enough in another. +You must be plainer if you want to justify your conduct." + +"I see that, but am afraid you'll have to take my honesty for granted, +because I can't tell you anything more, except that the man you came +with is not to be trusted and may involve you in the difficulties that +threaten him. You must think of me as a stranger to whom you tried to +do a good turn and who has showed his gratitude in a clumsy way." + +"Then there's nothing more to be said; but I suppose I must admit that +you meant well," she answered, and giving him a level glance moved to +the door. + +Foster held it open and after she had gone went down to the +smoking-room. Perhaps he had been rash, but this did not matter. On +the whole, he did not think the girl would tell Daly about his warning, +and if she did, he probably knew already that Foster was at the hotel. +In fact, it was rather significant that they had not met. Still, as +she was not going to Canada, he had not gained much, except perhaps by +exciting her suspicions and so preventing Daly's making some use of her +in his plots. This, however, was not Foster's object, although he +imagined Daly had some practical reason for his philandering. It was +for the girl's sake he had interfered and her attitude puzzled him. + +She could not have been altogether unsuspecting, or she would have +bitterly resented his attack upon her lover, but her blush and +confusion showed she had scruples and was rather the prey of a foolish +infatuation than an accomplice. She knew something, but he felt sure +she did not know in what a serious crime her lover was implicated. +Foster, however, would not dwell on this. He hoped she would return to +Edinburgh, but if she did not, he had done his best. He must be ready +to follow Daly in the morning, and going to another garage hired a car +and then warned Pete, whom he had sent to a different hotel. A fast +car would reach Liverpool in five or six hours. + +There was only one thing that disturbed him; he had not heard from the +police, but it would be dangerous to disobey an order by telegram, +while if Gordon arrived before Daly left, awkward complications might +arise. Foster, however, could do nothing to prevent this and presently +went to bed. + +Getting up in the dark next morning, he went to the garage. The air +was very raw and a fog hung over the town, but one or two electric +lights burned in the gloomy shed, where an attendant was doing +something. Daly's car stood where Foster had last seen it, but the +cover was off the engine and some tools and small springs lay about. +As there was no sign of the driver, it did not look as if Daly meant to +start soon. + +"You open early," he said to the attendant. "Nobody seems to be going +away just yet." + +"I'm here earlier than I need have been," the man grumbled. "By the +way the fellow who brought me has left his car, he won't be ready for +another hour." + +Foster, who had learned what he wanted to know, returned to the hotel +and his breakfast was served in a comer of the big dining-room. He +imagined that Daly had seen it was a bad morning and had not got up as +soon as he meant. The dining-room was cold and only lighted near +Foster's table, which did not look as if anybody else was expected. + +"I dare say you'd sooner have people who get up later," he remarked to +the waiter who brought him another dish. + +"We serve breakfast when it's wanted, sir, if you order it beforehand." + +"I seem to be the only person who has done so this morning." + +"So far as I know, sir," the waiter replied. "But there's another man +on early duty." + +Foster thought the other waiter would have turned on more lights if he +expected a customer, and as there was no need for hurry ate a good +meal. Day was breaking when he finished and word was brought him that +his car was ready. Going to the office, he paid his bill and asked if +a letter or telegram had arrived. There was nothing for him and he +went to a window that commanded a view of the street. His car stood +close by with Pete inside, but it was some time before Daly's came out +of the garage. Knowing that he could reach the door in a few moments, +Foster waited until the two ladies who had arrived with Daly went down +the steps alone. He could not understand this, but a waiter came up +and said that Miss Huntley would like to see him. When Foster reached +the pavement the girl had got into the car. + +"I thought you would be glad to know I am going home," she said. + +"Are you going in this car?" Foster asked sharply. + +"As far as Hawick," she answered with a twinkle of amusement. "As I am +doing what you urged, I don't see why you should be surprised." + +"No," said Foster, "of course not! Well, I really think it was a +useful hint." + +"Perhaps so. Thank you, and good-by," she said smiling, and signed to +the driver. + +The car rolled away and Foster, watching it speed up the street, +wondered where Daly was, and why the girl had sent for him. It was +possible that she had meant to retire, so to speak, with colors flying +and not to steal away, but he did not understand her amusement, and +feared a Parthian shot. He must find out why Daly did not want the car. + +Going back to the office, he asked the clerk: "Can you tell me when Mr. +Forbes will be down for breakfast?" + +"He left last night. The porter took his luggage to the twelve o'clock +train." + +Foster savagely clenched his fist. He had been cheated; the girl had +warned Daly, who had suspected some danger. Still, Foster did not +think she had told him all and she had taken his advice; but this did +not matter. Daly had gone and he must get upon his track as soon as +possible. Running down the steps, he jumped into the car and told the +man to drive to the station. + +The twelve o'clock train went to London, but there was a connection by +which one could reach Liverpool at about four in the morning. It was +now eight o'clock, and Foster walked up and down the platform, growling +at his folly, for a minute or two. Then he ascertained that there was +another train for Liverpool in half an hour which would arrive at noon, +and sending the car away, waited about the office until he could get +tickets. After all, he might find Daly before the steamer sailed. + + + + +XXII + +CARMEN GETS A SHOCK + +On his way to Liverpool, Foster tried to review the situation calmly. +His anger was vanishing, but he still felt sore and annoyed with +himself. He had weakly yielded to sentimental pity for an attractive +girl and had paid for it, because she had, no doubt, warned Daly, who +knew from Foster's boldness that he had learned enough to make him +dangerous. The latter grimly resolved that he would not let any +Quixotic folly spoil his plans again. He had been cleverly tricked, +but was not beaten yet, because a study of the steamship advertisements +led him to believe that Daly could not leave Liverpool until the +afternoon. Moreover, the fellow was obviously afraid of him. + +Arriving shortly after twelve o'clock, he drove to the Canadian Pacific +office and asked a clerk for a list of the passengers by a steamer +announced to sail that day. He was given a list and saw that Mr. +Andrew Forbes had taken a saloon berth. This indicated that Daly had +booked his passage beforehand. + +"I see my friend's on board," Foster remarked. "Have you got a first +and a second-class berth left?" + +"We had," the clerk said, smiling, "Unfortunately, the boat has gone." + +"Gone!" exclaimed Foster, who got a shock. "Don't your steamers sail +in the afternoon?" + +"As a rule," the clerk agreed. "However, this is an extra sailing, and +we sent her off earlier to pick up passengers at Belfast Lough." + +Foster said nothing, but left the office with a determined look. A +swift Canadian Northern liner sailed from Bristol two days later and +ought to reach Quebec soon after the other boat. He thought of +telegraphing to secure a berth, but decided not to do so. He had given +Gordon his Carlisle address, which was all that he had promised, and +although he had heard nothing from him, the police might make inquiries +at the steamship offices. On the whole, it seemed safer to leave +Liverpool and he took the first train to Bristol, but got out at +Hereford, which was about half-way. It would be awkward if the police +interfered with him now. + +Reaching Bristol shortly before the steamer sailed, he had no trouble +in taking a passage for himself and Pete, and arrived at Quebec about +twelve hours after the Canadian Pacific boat. Daly had got a start, +and although Foster did not mean to give up the chase, he felt +depressed as the train sped through the forests of Ontario. It was not +long since he had come that way in high spirits, looking forward with +pleasure to a holiday. Now he looked back, with a feeling of +unreality, on his wanderings among the Scottish bogs. All he had done +seemed ridiculous and fantastic. Nobody was the better for it, while +he had involved himself in a horrible tangle. The police were probably +on his track and Featherstone suspected him; he had acted like a +romantic boy and not a sober man. There was, however, one bright +gleam; Alice trusted him, and he must show that he deserved her +confidence. + +Arriving at Gardner's Crossing in the evening, he sent Pete to the +hotel and went to Austin's house. He must see Carmen and resolved that +she should find him proof against her wiles; he was not going to be a +sentimental fool again. In a general way, Carmen was, of course, too +clever for him, but he had now certain advantages which he meant to use. + +He was shown into her drawing-room, where he was left for some time, +and imagined with rather grim amusement that she was making +preparations to receive him. Carmen knew the power of her beauty, +which, however, owed much to her tasteful dress. In the meantime, he +looked about the room. It was pretty with a certain exotic touch that +the girl knew how to give. The color-plan of carpets, rugs, and +curtains, although rather vivid, was good; the furniture pleased the +eye. Foster had once thought it charmingly artistic, but knew better +now. Alice Featherstone had taught him the difference between +prettiness and dignified beauty. He felt that difference plainly when +Carmen came in, dressed like the fashionable women he had seen in +Edinburgh. + +"You have come back soon, but it's nice to see you," she said with a +smile. "The Crossing was duller than usual after you had gone." + +"Thank you! I came back sooner than I expected," Foster replied, +rather dryly. + +Carmen gave him a quick look, but sat down with languid grace in an +easy chair. + +"Well, I've no doubt you have much to tell me about your trip, and if +you'll talk about Edinburgh and London, I won't let anybody in." + +"Aren't you anxious to know if I delivered the packet?" + +"The packet? I had forgotten it," Carmen said carelessly. "Still, I +did think you might have written to let me know you took it safe. But +I dare say you had many interesting things to do." + +"As it happened, I had," Foster replied with a touch of grimness. "For +all that, I delivered the packet and got an answer." + +Carmen regarded him with surprise, as if she thought he had not played +up. "You can give me the answer afterwards. Tell me about +Featherstone's place and his people. I'm curious about them; +particularly his sisters. I suppose he has some?" + +Foster thought he understood. Carmen was clever and would not have +used such obvious means had she wished to learn if Lawrence had a +sister who had attracted him. What she wanted was to persuade him that +the packet was not important. + +"I'd sooner talk about the errand you gave me. Did you know what the +packet contained?" + +She laughed, but he thought the laugh was forced. "Doesn't that sound +rather stupid when I sent the thing?" + +"Perhaps it does," said Foster gravely. "Still, I hope you didn't +know." + +Her coquettish manner vanished and she leaned slightly forward while +her eyes got hard. Indeed, there was something feline in her alert +pose. Now she had, so to speak, unsheathed her claws, he was glad the +advantage was heavily on his side. For all that, he did not want to +hurt her. + +"Go on," she said sharply. + +"Very well. I got an answer, which I opened. I'll show it to you, but +won't give it up." + +"You opened it!" she exclaimed. "Do you mean to keep a letter that was +sent to me?" + +"I don't think it was sent to you; that's important." + +Carmen smiled defiantly and Foster admired her pluck, since it was +obvious that he had found out the trick. Still he thought she did not +know how important the letter really was. + +"Then you can quit fencing and get down to business," she said, and +Foster saw that the surface polish she generally wore was thin. The +character it concealed was fierce and somewhat primitive. He had +suspected that Carmen would not be restrained by conventions if she let +herself go. + +"If you'll be patient, I'll try to make things plain." + +He began by hastily recounting what had happened at the factory the +night Fred Hulton was killed. Carmen was obviously puzzled, which was +a relief to him, but he saw comprehension in her look as he went on to +relate how he had been watched by the police, and his interview with +Graham and subsequent adventures. By degrees, her understanding +changed to horror, and when he stopped he saw that she had got a cruel +shock. Her face was white, her gaze was fixed, and, her eyes were +unusually wide open. Still he thought it was through her pride she +suffered most. Then she braced herself and looked at him scornfully. + +"You surely lost your nerve and got imagining things when you were +hiding in the bogs. It's a quite impossible story!" + +"It sounds like that, but I have some proof; money for Daly and another +man, which I suppose you were to send on. It's evidently their share +of the plunder." + +He took out his wallet and held up the checks, keeping, however, a firm +grip on them, because he knew that if Carmen meant to fight for her +lover she would not be scrupulous. + +"Daly wasn't near the factory the night Fred Hulton was killed. I know +where he was," she said in a strained but defiant voice. + +"All the better for him," Foster rejoined. "It's pretty clear that he +had a share in the thing." + +Carmen suddenly leaned back and turned her head. She had given in +sooner than Foster expected, but the evidence was overwhelming. He did +not look at her for some moments and felt ashamed of the cruelty he had +had to use, but there was no avoiding this when a number of people's +happiness was at stake. After all, he thought it was rather her +ambition than her affection that had been engaged. Then rousing +herself with an effort she turned to him. + +"Well," she said, "it looks as if I'd had an escape!" + +Foster felt comforted, but did not answer, and she resumed: "You +haven't told me this for nothing. What do you want?" + +"I want to know where Daly is. I've no doubt he called here on his way +west and you have his address." + +"You can't force me to give it you." + +"I don't know if I can or not, but don't want to use force," Foster +replied, and while he waited, hesitating to play his last card, Carmen +looked up with fear in her eyes. + +"Jake," she said, "you mustn't think my father knows anything about +this. I sent the packet, without telling him, because Daly asked me." + +"But your father and he had some business together that nobody knew +about." + +"They had. They were really backing Nicholson, who got the first +recorders turned off the Fish-hawk silver claim." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "now I understand!" + +He was glad to admit that her statement explained Austin's rather +mysterious association with Daly. Public feeling had been strongly +roused by the dispute about the mine, whose finders it was believed had +been cunningly cheated out of their rights. There were, moreover, +hints of foul play about a dangerous accident in the workings that had +given the victorious claimants a legal advantage. Foster could imagine +Daly's finding scope for his talents in the trickery and intrigue, and +saw why Austin did not want his share in it known. + +"In a way, it's a relief to find that's all your father had to do with +the fellow," he resumed. "Anyhow, I want his address." + +"I won't give it you," Carmen answered stubbornly. + +Foster hesitated. The shock the girl had got had broken down her +self-control. He shrank from turning this to his advantage and dealing +her another blow, but could not be fastidious when his partner's safety +and Alice Featherstone's happiness were at stake. Besides, it would be +better for Carmen that her infatuation for Daly should be altogether +destroyed. + +"Well," he said, "I'm surprised that you should still feel you ought to +protect the man, and must try to convince you that he doesn't deserve +it." + +Then he related what he had seen in the corridor of the Carlisle hotel +and how Miss Huntley had helped Daly to deceive him. Carmen's face +paled and then suddenly turned crimson; but she answered with a +quietness he had not expected: + +"You're not a liar, Jake, so I suppose this is true. But you're all of +you human, and you say the girl is pretty. What you saw mayn't mean +very much." + +"She wore an engagement ring. I don't imagine it was given her by +another man." + +Then Carmen flung the last of her self-control away. Her eyes flashed +and Foster thought she looked like a wild cat as she indulged her +savage rage. + +"The cur!" she cried in a harsh voice. "He went to Banff, in British +Columbia. Now you know, you had better go after him. Do what you like +with him; I don't mind!" + +Foster went to the door, but as he reached it she called him back and +looked at him with a bitter, mocking smile. + +"You're smarter than I thought, Jake, but I suppose you think I don't +know why you meddled! It wasn't for your partner's sake, though I soon +guessed that Daly was getting after him; Featherstone has a sister, and +you have fallen in love with her. Well, she can have you with pleasure +if she has any use for you, and before long you'll make her deadly +tired. You'd bore a live woman crazy in a week; you'll never be rich, +because you're afraid of touching a dollar you don't earn, and you've +got the morals of a convent-school girl!" She gasped and resumed in a +scream: "Why don't you go before I throw something at you?" + +Foster left and was glad when he shut the door. Carmen was obviously +beside herself and had gone further than she meant. If it was any +comfort to insult him, he did not grudge it her, but thought he saw +where her remarks led. He had been rather fond of Carmen, as she no +doubt knew, before he understood her, and their friendship might have +ripened until----. Well, he was sorry for her, but it looked as if she +was not the only person who had had an escape. + +When he got outside, he went to the factory and found Hulton alone in +the president's room. The man looked worn, but greeted Foster with a +reserved smile and gave him a cigar. + +"You haven't been away very long," he remarked. "Didn't your visit +turn out as pleasant as you expected?" + +"In one way, it did not. But why did you send the British police after +me?" + +"As a matter of fact, I let them know you were all right, but my agent +had to go to them, and thought it might be better if they kept a watch +on you. You'd got busy about some mysterious business. What was it?" + +"I can't tell you," said Foster bluntly. "It only concerns me and +Featherstone, but it led to something else; I'll come to that later. +What about the man I helped on the train? If he got through all right, +why didn't he send me word?" + +"As the fellows who attacked you had got on the wrong track, we thought +we'd let them follow it, but they were smarter than we reckoned and we +lost them." + +"Then you made use of me, at my risk, as the Scottish police did +afterwards?" Foster rejoined. "I don't know that I've much to thank +you for, since it led to my being thrown off the Montreal express and +chased across the Border bogs." + +"I must allow that we did something of the kind," Hulton owned with a +smile. "But we'll let that go. What have you found out?" + +Foster handed him Graham's letter and the check on the American bank, +but not the circular check for Daly. Hulton's face showed stern +satisfaction and he gave Foster a very grateful look. + +"I owe you much for this and am not going to forget the service. These +papers prove conspiracy and robbery, and clear my boy. But how did you +get them?" + +Foster supplied a garbled account of his interview with Graham, and +Hulton looked at him thoughtfully. + +"Its plain that you're keeping something back, but if it's your or your +partner's business, I suppose I can't object. I believe you mean to do +the square thing." + +"Thank you," said Foster. "What have you found out about Daly?" + +"Enough to show he wasn't at the factory the night Fred was killed," +Hulton answered with stern self-control. "But he was in the plot and +is being watched in Scotland." + +"Then you don't know that he's in Canada?" + +Hulton stretched out his hand to a bell, but Foster stopped him. + +"Wait a moment! You have got to leave Daly to me. Anyhow, you're not +to send your agents or the police after him until I telegraph you. I'm +going to look for him by to-night's train." + +"The train goes west," Hulton answered meaningly. + +"It does, but if I think I'm followed, I'll spoil the trail." + +Hulton's eyes flashed and his face set very hard. "The man belongs to +the gang that killed my son and tried to blacken his name. I don't +quit until I've run the last rogue down." + +"I mean to see Daly first," Foster answered doggedly. + +After a moment or two, Hulton made a gesture of agreement. "Very well; +I allow you have a claim. But I won't interfere if my agents have +already got on his track." + +"I must take the risk of that," Foster replied and left the factory a +few minutes afterwards. + + + + +XXIII + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + +Daly was not at Banff, and Foster, who made cautious inquiries, found +nothing to indicate that he had been there. Indeed, he began to weigh +the possibility of Carmen's having deceived him, but rejected this +explanation. The girl was clever at intrigue, but he did not think she +had acted a part. She had really lost her self-control and told him +the truth in a fit of rage. On the other hand, it was possible that +Daly had deceived her, but there was no obvious reason for his doing so. + +The fellow, however, was not in Banff, which is a small place, +frequented mostly by tourists and invalids who come there in summer, +and Foster took a west-bound train. He was once more at a loss and +felt dispirited. For one thing, he had no time to lose, because it +would spoil his plans if Hulton's agents got on Daly's track before him. + +He left Banff late at night, with a ticket for Vancouver, which he had +bought on speculation, partly because the seaboard city is a +clearing-house for travelers to all parts of the Pacific coast, but did +not sleep much as the heavy train rumbled through the mountains. The +jolting of the cars and the roar of wheels that echoed among the rocks +disturbed him, and he was troubled by gloomy thoughts. He had promised +Alice Featherstone that he would clear her brother; but he had also to +clear himself, and in order to do so must find Lawrence as well as +Daly. Just now he had not much hope of finding either, but he +cherished a vague belief in his luck, and it was unthinkable that he +should neglect any chance of justifying the girl's confidence. He was +ready to follow Daly round the world, sooner than lose that. The +trouble was that he could not tell if he was following the fellow or +not. + +He went to sleep at last, and getting up rather late, spent an hour or +two trying to knit up broken clews and looking for a light. It was a +profitless but absorbing occupation and he vacantly glanced at the +majestic panorama of snowy peaks and climbing forest that rolled past +the windows of the car. When his thoughts wandered from their groove, +he saw Alice Featherstone moving with stately calm about the Garth, or +standing in the orchard with the sunset shining on her face. He +recalled the grace of her tall figure and how her dress harmonized with +the mossy trunks, but he loved to dwell upon the look of trust in her +steady eyes. Then the memories were suddenly banished, for a whistle +rang up the track and there was a jar of brakes. + +Foster hurried out to the platform when the long train stopped, and saw +the conductor talking to the engineer and passengers jumping down into +the snow. Pete joined him as he followed them, but he stopped for some +moments and looked about. There was no station near. The track, which +was marked by cinders and stains on the snow, ran along a desolate +mountainside. Dark pines that looked as if they had been dusted with +icing-sugar rolled in curiously rigid ranks up the slope, getting +smaller until they dwindled to a fine saw-edge that bit into a vast +sweep of white. This ended in a row of jagged peaks whose summits +gleamed with dazzling brightness against the blue sky. Below the +track, the ground fell away to a tremendous gorge, where dark-colored +mist hung about a green river dotted with drifting ice. The sun struck +warm upon his face, though the snow was dry. + +"We'll find out why they've stopped," he said to Pete and walked +forward past the cars. + +The engineer stood on the step of the huge locomotive and had not much +information to give. + +"Track's gone down not far ahead; snow-slide, I guess." + +He shrugged when Foster asked if it would be a long job. "You can see +for yourself, if you like," he remarked, indicating a plume of smoke +that rose above the pines. "There's a construction gang at work round +the bend. It's a sure thing we won't pull out before you're back." + +Foster set off with Pete and several passengers, and the Scot gazed +about with wonder. + +"I was born among the hills, but never have I seen ought like this!" he +exclaimed. "Man, it passes dreamin' o'; it's just stupenjious! But I +wouldna' say they'll mak' much o' farming here." + +"They have some bench tablelands and pretty rich alluvial valleys," +Foster answered with a smile. "The province depends largely on its +minerals." + +Pete glanced back up the track that wound down between rock and forest +from a distant notch in the high, white rampart. + +"I'm thinking the men who built yon line had stout hearts." + +"It wasn't an easy job," Foster agreed. "They were up against savage +Nature, and she's still too strong for the engineer now and then, as I +expect you'll shortly see." + +They walked through a gap in the pines and stopped with a sense of awe +on the edge of a great red furrow in the mountain. The gash was +fringed by shattered trees, and here and there a giant splintered trunk +rested precariously among stones ground to fragments. Far beneath, a +vast pile of earth and snow dammed the river, and half-way up an +overturned locomotive, with boiler crushed like an eggshell, lay among +the wreckage. The end of a smashed box-car rose out of the boiling +flood. For a hundred yards the track had vanished, but gangs of men +were hurrying to and fro about the gap. Farther back, there was clang +of flung-down rails and a ringing of hammers. + +"If they open the road again by to-morrow morning, they'll be lucky," +Foster remarked, and stopped a big fellow who was going past with an ax +on his shoulder. "Is there any settlement not too far ahead?" + +"There's a smart new hotel at the flag station about six miles off," +said the man. "You can make it all right walking if you keep to the +track and watch out you don't meet the construction train in the +snowshed." + +Foster, who knew he would find waiting tedious, went back to the car +for his small bag, after which he and Pete set off for the hotel. They +had some trouble to cross the path of the avalanche and then spent some +time getting past the men who were unloading a row of flat cars. The +single-line track was cut out of the rock and one ran a risk of +glissading down to the river by venturing outside its edge. Once, +indeed, a heavy beam, thrown too far, plunged down like a toboggan, and +leaping from a rock's crest splashed into the flood. The men on the +cars worked in furious haste, and it was difficult to avoid the +clanging rails they threw off. + +Foster got past, but did not find walking easy when he had done so. +The track wound among the folds of the hills, and where the sun had +struck the snow there was a slippery crust, through which he broke. +Where it ran past tall crags and between the trees, the snow was dry +and loose as dust. They made something over two miles in the first +hour and soon afterwards came to the mouth of a snowshed. The opening +made a dark blotch on the glittering slope, for the roof was pitched at +a very small angle to the declivity and the snow passed down hill over +it with scarcely a wrinkle. + +It was only when they entered they saw signs of man's work in the +massive beams and stringers that braced the structure. These were +presently lost in the gloom and Foster stumbled among the ties. +Shingle ballast rolled under his feet; where he found a tie to step on +it was generally by stubbing his toe, and once or twice he struck the +side of the shed. + +For all that, he pushed on as fast as possible. The warning he had +been given was indefinite, but it looked as if a train was shortly +expected and the locomotive, with its outside cylinders, would not give +them much room. He imagined that refuges would be provided at +intervals, but did not know where to find them. Now and then they +stopped to listen, but heard nothing. There was deep silence, which +was a relief, and they blundered on again as fast as they could. It +was rather daunting work and one could not make much speed, but when a +faint, muffled throbbing reached them they began to run. + +Foster had no means of guessing the length of the shed, and as he +slipped among the ballast looked anxiously in front, but could not see +the glimmering patch of light he expected. The darkness was +impenetrable, but the contour of the hillside had indicated that the +shed was curved, and the outlet might be nearer than he thought. In +the meantime, the sweat ran down his face and his breath came hard. He +was in good training, for his journeys among the Scottish hills had +strengthened his muscles, but the footing was bad among the stones, and +he labored through them awkwardly with set lips and clenched hands. He +thought of throwing away his heavy coat, but it would take a few +moments to get it off and he must put down the bag, in which there was +the letter he would need. By and by his foot struck something and +lurching forward he lost his balance and came down heavily. The blow +shook him and he was a little slow in getting up until he felt a rail +he put his hand on quiver. Then he scrambled to his feet, but could +not find the bag. + +"I hae't," said Pete, who seized his arm and urged him forward. + +A deep snorting reached them and a tie he trod on trembled, but as he +ran savagely with labored breath there was an elusive glimmer in the +dark ahead. It grew brighter, an irregularly-shaped white patch +appeared, and making a tense effort while the ballast rolled beneath +his feet, he staggered into the sunshine. Then with a gasp of keen +relief he threw himself upon the snow beside the track. + +About a hundred yards away, a giant locomotive toiled up the incline, +hurling out clouds of smoke that streamed far back among the pines. +The road bed shook and the hillside rang with the din of wheels. While +Foster lay panting, the locomotive labored past, and then long, flat +cars, on which men sat upon the load of jarring rails, clanged by. The +black mouth of the shed swallowed them, a cloud of smoke and dusty snow +curled about the opening, and the uproar suddenly sank to a muffled +rumble. This died away and the deep silence of the mountains was +emphasized by the sound of the river. + +"We were not much too soon," Foster said with a breathless laugh. "Now +I come to think of it, there's no obvious reason we shouldn't have +stopped on board the train and got our lunch comfortably. I seem to +have a habit of doing unusual and unnecessary things; it's curious how +soon you get into trouble when you indulge a bent like that." + +"Yon's a verra true remairk," Pete agreed. "It's a rough and thorny +world, an' if ye will not walk in the cleared paths but gang yere air +gait, ye must struggle with the briars." + +"And scramble through snowsheds? You Scots are a philosophical lot. +But do you call poaching sticking to the beaten path?" + +"I'm thinking it's as near it as stravaging aboot the Border mosses, +when ye might gang by train." + +"A fair hit! But after all, man wears the regulation paths so deep +that he can't get out when he wants. What about the pioneers, who +blaze the new trails? Aren't they needed?" + +"Whiles, maybe," Pete answered grinning. "For a' that, they maun tak' +the consequences. Do ye feel it's yere business to break a new road?" + +"Certainly not! I'm not a philanthropist and would be quite satisfied +with making things a little easier for myself and my friends, but am +much afraid I haven't succeeded yet. In fact, there's one friend in +England who's very far from grateful. But the question is--Why did I +leave the train?" + +"Ye just felt ye had to?" + +"I think I did. But why did I feel that?" + +Pete chuckled. "There ye have me! This I ken; whiles when I had a +hare or a few paltrig in the lining o' my auld coat and cam' to a slap +in a dyke, I had a kind o' feeling yon was no' the road for me. I +couldna' tell there was a keeper hiding on the ither side; but I didna' +gang. Maybe it's better no' to argue but follow yere heart." + +"No," said Foster, "I imagine it's really better to follow your head. +In the meantime, I've had no lunch and think we'll get on." + +They came to a wide hollow in the hills where the snow was deep and +loose. The sun was shut out and the frost was keen, while Foster saw +by the lengthening shadow of the pines across the river that the +afternoon was wearing on. A glance at his watch showed that he had +been walking for nearly three hours, but there was no sign of the +hotel. Dark masses of trees ran up from the water to the line of +summer snow, and no roof or curl of smoke broke their somber monotony. +High above, the peaks glittered with a steely brightness that seemed to +intensify the cold. + +Their breath hung about them as they plodded on, but at length, when +they came to the middle of the bend, where the hills curved out again, +there was a break and they stopped at the end of a bridge. The low sun +shone into the gap, which was profoundly deep and majestically +beautiful. On its farther side, tremendous crags held up the snow, +which trickled down their faces in thin gray streaks and stretched back +above, steeped in soft blue shadow. On Foster's side, giant pines +glimmered a bright green in the warm light, running up to a glittering +slope that ended in two rugged peaks, and a river that sprang from a +wrinkled glacier foamed through the dusky gorge. Where a small +clearing had been cut in the forest, steep red roofs stood out in +harmonious contrast with the green of the firs, and a picturesque +wooden building with pillars and verandas occupied the greater part of +the opening. + +"If the place is as attractive inside, it's worth the walk," Foster +remarked. "You appreciate your quarters best when you've had some +trouble to get there." + +"I'm thinking that's true. The peat fire and the auld rush chair in +the bit cothouse are weel worth winning to when ye come through the +rain and wind ower the dark moss. This is a gran' country, but it's +no' like that ither amang the Border fells." + +Foster stood for a few moments and mused, for he sympathized with Pete. +He remembered the satisfaction with which he had seen the lights of a +lonely inn or farmstead twinkle when he tramped, wet and tired, across +the Scottish moors. They were bleak and often forbidding, but had a +charm one felt but could not analyze, with the half-lights that +trembled across them and their subdued coloring. In spite of some +hardships, he had been happy in the misty, rain-swept land, but he knew +it had been touched by the glamour of romance. That was over. He was +on his probation in utilitarian Canada, and very much at a loss; but he +meant to make good somehow and go forward, trusting in his luck. + +"Well," he said, "I'm hungry and we'll get on. I hope they won't make +us wait for supper, though they'll no doubt call it dinner at a place +like this." + +Five minutes afterwards he stamped the snow off his boots as he entered +a glass-fronted veranda in front of the hotel. It was comfortably +furnished, warm, and occupied by three people. A lady sat with some +sewing at a table, and a very pretty girl, holding a cigarette case, +leaned over the side of a basket chair, in which a man reclined. +Foster, who imagined he was an invalid by his slack pose, was passing +on to the main door when the man moved. As he turned to take a +cigarette Foster saw his face. + +"Lawrence!" he exclaimed. + +"Jake!" said the other, and would have got up, but the girl put her +hand restrainingly on his arm. + +Foster stood still for a moment, overcome by surprise and satisfaction, +but understanding what he saw. The lady with the sewing was studying +him, but he did not resent this and thought he would like her. The +girl divided her attention between him and his comrade, whom she +restrained with a pretty air of authority. She obviously knew who +Foster was and felt curious, but meant to take care of Lawrence. There +was something in her protective manner that Foster found singularly +charming. Then Lawrence beckoned and held out his hand. + +"I'm uncommonly glad to see you, Jake, but how did you get here?" + +"Why aren't you in California?" + +They both laughed and Lawrence turned to the lady. + +"This is my neglectful partner, as I dare say you have guessed. Mrs. +Stephen, of Victoria, Jake." + +She gave Foster her hand and he was next presented to Miss Lucy +Stephen. Then Lawrence indicated Pete, who waited, looking very big +and muscular but quite at ease. + +"Who's this and where did you get him? I'll engage that he was born +between Ettrick and Liddel." + +"He kens!" Peter remarked with a twinkle. "My name's no' far frae +Ettrick, sir." + +"My friend, Pete Scott," said Foster. "You have heard the ladies' +names, Pete, but this is my partner, Mr. Featherstone, from the Garth." + +Pete lifted his hand to his forehead and the movement had a touch of +dignity. "Your servant, all; an' if ye'll alloo it, Mr. Foster's +friends are mine." + +Lawrence laughed. "A very proper sentiment, and a true Borderer! But +you haven't told us how you found him, Jake." + +"It's a long tale," said Foster. "Besides, I'm hungry. So I expect is +Pete." + +Lucy Stephen rang a bell. "Tea ought to be ready. We often take it +here." + +The tea was brought a few minutes afterwards and when Lucy gave him his +cup Foster sat in a basket chair studying his comrade. Lawrence's face +was pinched and his pose languid, but Foster thought he was not so ill +as he had been. He did not know how much he ought to ask and had +decided to wait until they were alone when Lawrence smiled. + +"You needn't be alarmed, partner. I'm very much better than I was and +will soon be quite fit again." + +"We have good ground for hoping so," Lucy Stephen added in a friendly +tone, and Foster thought she had noted his anxiety and liked him for it. + +Her remark seemed to warrant his looking at her and he approved what he +saw. The girl was attractive and had character, but what struck him at +first sight was the protective gentleness she showed his comrade. He +liked her eyes, which were a soft, clear blue, while her supple figure +and warm-tinted skin hinted that she was vigorous. It was plain that +she had not Alice Featherstone's reserve and pride, nor he thought the +depth of tenderness that the latter hid. She was softer and more +pliable, for Alice was marked by an unflinching steadfastness. He +smiled as he admitted that for him Alice stood alone on an +unapproachable plane. + +"But how did you get ill?" he asked. + +"I was left on an icy _couloir_," Lawrence replied. "When they found +me I was half-frozen, but it makes a story that's probably as long as +yours. I'll tell it you later. How's our Borderer getting on?" + +Foster turned to Pete, who had a large, hot Canadian biscuit on his +plate. "This kind of meal isn't very common in this country, Pete. +Perhaps I'd better warn you that there'll be another by and by." + +"Aweel," said Pete, grinning, "I've no' done so bad. It's a guid plan +to mak' certain when ye hae the chance." + + + + +XXIV + +LAWRENCE'S STORY + +When the meal was over Foster began to feel impatient. Pete went away, +but Mrs. Stephen and Lucy remained, and Foster, having much to ask and +tell his comrade, was embarrassed by their presence. By and by he saw +that Lawrence was watching him with quiet amusement. + +"It's like old times to have you with us," Lawrence remarked. "In +fact, it only needed your turning up to complete my satisfaction; but +you're a disturbing fellow. Don't you think this lucky reunion is +rather too good to spoil?" + +Foster knew what he meant and was tempted to agree, though he felt this +was weak. It was pleasant to lounge, enjoying careless talk, and the +society of the two ladies had its charm. They added a touch of +domesticity and gave the place a homelike look, while the girl made an +attractive picture as she handed Lawrence his matches and cigarettes. +Foster thought it was worth being ill to be waited on like that. Then +his chair was comfortable and he could see the sunset fading on the +snow. + +The sky was a wonderful pale-green and the high peaks glowed against +it, softly red. There was a belt where the snow glittered, but lower +down it faded to gray and blue. The pines were nearly black, but rose +out of the shadow in sharp-cut spires, and far down in the dusky gorge, +from which the roar of the flood and crash of ice ascended, there were +gleams of livid foam. Still there was much he wanted to learn, and it +was something of a relief when Mrs. Stephen picked up her sewing and +gave her daughter a meaning glance. To Foster's surprise, Lawrence +interposed. + +"If you don't mind, I'd sooner you didn't go." Then he turned to +Foster with a smile. "It's obvious that you want to unbosom yourself, +Jake, but you can begin. You needn't be afraid of mentioning Daly. +Lucy knows." + +Foster remarked the girl's blush. Since she knew so much, it was plain +that Lawrence had asked her to marry him and she had agreed. He +imagined that Lawrence wanted Mrs. Stephen to hear somebody else's +account of the matter, and although it would have been easier to talk +to Lawrence alone, he asked: + +"Did you know the fellow was in Banff a day or two since?" + +Lucy Stephen made an abrupt movement, and her mother looked interested. +She was a quiet lady and more reserved than the girl, but Foster +thought her intelligent and firm. + +"I did not," said Lawrence. "As a matter of fact, I'm no longer afraid +of the fellow and mean to fight. He can't do me much harm--now." + +The girl's shy glance at his comrade moved Foster. She knew what her +lover meant and valued his trust; but he could sympathize with Mrs. +Stephen, who looked disturbed. The latter was practical and no doubt +saw that Daly might give them trouble. + +"You had better begin at the beginning, and then we'll understand why +you came back and how you got on Daly's trail," Lawrence resumed with a +hint of resignation. + +"Very well; but first, why didn't you write?" + +"I wrote twice. Once to my mother and once to you." + +"We got no letters. Did you post them?" + +"Ah!" said Lawrence, "that was unfortunate. I gave the first letter to +a steward to send ashore from a San Francisco boat. Walters put the +other in the mail." + +"Who is Walters?" + +"We'll come to him later. Get on with your story." + +Foster told it as clearly as he could, though this took some time, and +when he had finished was annoyed by his comrade's smile. Lawrence +seldom took things seriously enough. + +"Jake is a born meddler," he remarked to the others. "He can't resist +the temptation to put crooked matters right." + +"It is a useful habit," said Mrs. Stephen quietly. + +"Just so," Lawrence agreed. "Still it's a habit that ought to be +carefully controlled and not, so to speak, be indulged out of +sentimental impulses." + +Foster felt embarrassed, although he thought he had said no more about +Carmen and Alice than was needed to make his narrative clear. + +"First of all," Lawrence resumed, "he takes up my defense, then he must +help Carmen, and I think deserved the trouble in which she involved +him. Next he seems to have been moved by my sister's anxiety." He +paused and gave Foster a curious quiet smile. "I wondered what Alice +would think of you and hope she was grateful." + +Foster saw Lucy's interest, and wondered whether he had told more than +he meant, but his comrade's amusement seemed uncalled for, and he +rejoined: "I imagined I'd made it plain that your sister wasn't the +only relative your carelessness alarmed." + +"You did. The situation wasn't without its humor, Jake. After you had +embarked on a number of strange adventures on my behalf, it must have +been galling to be suspected of having made away with me. However, I +understand that Alice didn't take this view?" + +"She did not," said Foster shortly, and Lawrence rang a bell. + +"Get me a C.P. telegram form," he ordered the waiter. + +The form was brought, and Lawrence filled it up and gave it to the man. +Then he fixed his eyes on Foster and remarked carelessly: "I've sent it +in your name, Jake, and not to my father. I thought somebody had +better break the comforting news to him, and briefly stated that you +had found me." + +"Oughtn't you to have added some particulars?" Mrs. Stephen asked. + +"On the whole, I don't think so. For one thing, Jake's taciturn +modesty rather becomes him, and the charges for an English telegram are +high." + +Foster said nothing, but he knew the message had been sent to Alice and +Lawrence was satisfied with him as his sister's lover. This was +something, but Lawrence's approval might not count for much. + +"That's done with," the latter resumed. "Since you didn't find Daly at +Banff, we have to decide if Carmen meant to deceive you and he never +intended going there. I rather think we had better leave it to Mrs. +Stephen and Lucy." + +"I imagine she told the truth," Lucy replied. "If she had loved the +man, she might, after all, have tried to protect him; but a selfish, +ambitious girl who found she had been cheated, would be capable of +ruining him in a fit of jealous rage." + +"But I didn't state that she was ambitious and selfish," objected +Foster. + +Lawrence's eyes twinkled. "You don't realize all your talents, Jake. +For one thing, you have a gift for narrative, and the portrait you drew +of Carmen with a stroke or two was lifelike. Then, when you met and +bluffed her into giving Daly away, you couldn't have taken a more +effective line if you had been an ambassador. What do you think, Mrs. +Stephen?" + +"Mr. Foster seems to have used all his advantages and the girl got a +shock that found out her weak points. I believe she meant to ruin her +worthless lover." + +"So do I," Lawrence agreed. "I expect you have made Jake sorry he was +firm, but I'd warned him about Carmen and she doesn't deserve much +pity. But why did Daly leave England and how did he find out that I'd +been at Banff?" + +"If you'll tell me what you have done since you left the Crossing, it +might help to solve the puzzle," Foster replied. + +Lawrence made a gesture of resignation. "I suppose it must be told. I +went to California and didn't get as well as I expected. There was a +good deal of sea-fog on the coast and after a time I went farther +south. That's one reason I didn't write; I felt languid and dejected +and didn't want to alarm my folks. Well, I tried Mexico and got rather +worse; besides I found lounging tiresome work. In consequence, I +joined a steamer going north and her doctor told me that dry cold +mountain air was the best cure for troubles like mine. I met Walters +on the voyage up the coast." + +"Perhaps you had better describe him," Lucy suggested. + +"Walters looks about my age and is thin and dark; an amusing fellow and +remarkably well informed. In fact, I couldn't guess his nationality; +he seemed to have been everywhere. He had good manners, but somehow +one missed----" + +"Something that good manners must be founded on," Lucy interposed. + +Foster saw that they had argued about the man before, because Lawrence +smiled indulgently. + +"Then how did he make your acquaintance?" he asked the girl. + +"That was not altogether Lawrence's fault. Walters was cleverer than +he thought." + +"And he mailed one of the letters that did not arrive?" + +"The fellow," Lawrence continued, "was a pleasant companion and when I +mentioned why I was traveling agreed that the mountains were best for +me. Told me about some friends of his whom the air had cured." + +"In short, he recommended your trying Banff," Lucy remarked. + +"He did me a good turn there. We separated at Seattle, but I found him +at Victoria, where I stopped some weeks. It was there I met Lucy, who +was going to Banff. I must explain that she's a mountaineer." + +The girl blushed. "I climbed in the Olympians twice with college +friends. They talked about exploring some of the northern glaciers +next summer, and as we wanted a change, I persuaded mother to spend a +month or two at a mountain resort where I could get some practice on +the ice." She paused and added in a grave voice: "I really don't climb +well, Mr. Foster, and doubt if I shall venture on the rocks again." + +"Well," resumed Lawrence, "we decided to go to Banff together. I got +better rapidly and we made a few easy excursions into the mountains, +but the weather was bad and we didn't like our hotel. Then Walters +turned up again and told us about this place. In fact, he was rather +enthusiastic about it and said we'd find good rock climbs at the door, +so we agreed to move." + +"And took Walters?" + +"He was an amusing fellow. He'd a way of finding something interesting +for one to do and was always ready when he was wanted; a very useful +man to have about." + +Foster imagined his comrade might have found the fellow about when he +was not wanted, but Mrs. Stephen's smile was illuminating. It seemed +to hint that Lawrence had found Walters useful because he took her off +his hands. Foster thought it curious that the man was satisfied with +his part, since Lucy was a very attractive girl. Walters had obviously +not attached himself to the party on her account. + +"As I got stronger we tried some harder climbs," Lawrence went on. +"Lucy is clever and steady on the ice; I'd had some practice on +Scawfell in winter when I was at home, and though Walters didn't know +much about the work his nerve is good. At length, we resolved to try +the sharp peak yonder." + +It was nearly dark, but Foster, looking up the valley, saw a white +summit gleam against the sky. The shoulders of the mountain had faded +to a pale gray, and the darker streak that filled a deep hollow marked +a glacier. + +"We started early and at first found the glacier rough but safe. +Walters had insisted on two guides; prospectors, used to the rocks, who +now and then took a tourist party out. The glacier brought us up some +height, but after a time the surface began to be broken by big +crevasses. We spent two hours picking our way across and at noon saw +we must find another route. The slope on the right would take us off +our line; on the left there were high, icy rocks that would puzzle a +member of the Alpine club." + +"We sat down and examined the mountain with the glasses. Above the +crags, a snowfield ran up to the foot of the last sharp ridge, but we +did not see how we could reach it. Ragged clouds drove across the +ridge and blowing snow streamed about the peak like mist. Lucy, +however, was keen on going on, and by and by one of the guides picked +out a _coulee_ that might take us up. _Coulee's_ good French-Canadian, +but Alpinists call it a _couloir_. It looked like a thin, white, +perpendicular streak on the face of the dark rock. But perhaps I'm +boring you with these particulars." + +Lucy gave Foster a meaning glance and he said, "No; I want to +understand the thing." + +"It was awkward to reach the _coulee_, because the glacier was badly +crevassed, but we got there. The gully was nearly precipitous; a +narrow trough that serves as a rubbish shoot for the mountain when the +thaw splits the rocks. I expect it's ground smooth in summer, but it +was filled with hard, slippery snow. We stopped again and studied it, +and I felt doubtful I about taking Lucy up, but she didn't want to go +back. Walters took my view and said we'd all go back, but he looked +disappointed and Lucy wouldn't agree." + +"I lost my temper," Lucy admitted. "I never liked Walters and when he +supported Lawrence I got obstinate. Besides, I thought he really +wanted to get rid of me." + +"Anyhow, we decided that one guide should take Lucy back down the +glacier." + +"Walters decided," Lucy objected. "It's important, Mr. Foster, that he +chose the guide. Be careful how you tell the rest, Lawrence." + +"He said she must take the best man, and one laughed and said that if +we meant to get up we'd better stick to him. Walters, however, sent +this fellow off with Lucy, and then we fastened on the rope and began +to climb. We got up perhaps a hundred feet by kicking steps in the +snow, but that's a tiring job for the leader, and when he found a crack +in the wall, where we could stop, the guide had had enough." + +"Why was it necessary to find a crack?" Foster asked. + +"One couldn't stand on the snow, and if we had tried to sit on it, we'd +have shot down to the bottom; for the most part, the walls were ground +smooth. When you go up a place like that, the leader kicks a little +hole as high as he can in front, and then stands in it while he makes +another. The rest put their feet in the holes as they follow. Well, +when we set off again I went first and had to use my ax because the +snow had hardened into ice, I soon found out I hadn't quite got better, +and was forced to stop when we were nearly half-way up. We lay down, +with our toes in the nicks, to rest, and I slid my flask down to +Walters when I'd had a drink. It was a big flask, and I'd got it +filled with brandy. I thought the guide took a remarkably long drink, +but he looked steady when he crawled up to take my place. + +"After that it was very slow work and we were glad when we found a knob +of rock sticking out of the ice. It had been ground into the shape of +a bridge pier by the rubbish shooting past. We stopped a bit and +argued if we should give it up, but the guide declared he knew a better +way down into the next valley and Walters seemed keen, so we ate +something, took another drink, and set off again. The slope was +dangerously steep and I thought the guide was using his ax wildly, but +we came to a deep crack in the wall and when Walters suggested that it +might help us out of the gully I threw off the rope. It would have +been of no use if I had fallen, and I meant to come down unless I saw a +fairly safe route to the snowfield. In fact, I think I meant to give +up the climb and only went to find an excuse for this. + +"The crack was not quite vertical and gave a good hold, but when I'd +got up eighteen or twenty feet I came to an awkward slab. It bulged +out, but I found a hold for my hands and scrambled over the edge. I +managed this because the alternative was falling off and shooting to +the bottom of the _coulee,_ but perhaps because I was weaker than I +thought, I wrenched my shoulder during the lift. Anyhow, I couldn't +use my arm. It appeared afterwards that a ligament was strained, and +the joint pinches yet. + +"For a minute or two I thought hard. There was no way up, and I hadn't +nerve enough to lower myself over the ledge by one arm. When I moved +the other cautiously it hurt worse than at first. I called to the +others and told them how I was fixed, but got a shock when the guide +looked up. + +"'Can't get down?' he said. 'Then why in thunder don't you jump?' + +"'The fool's drunk,' Walters explained and added that he'd try to bring +me the rope. + +"I told him to throw me the end, as there was a knob I could double it +round and then slide down both parts. The trouble was that Walters had +nothing much to stand on when he tried to throw the coil. He lost his +balance, slid down the gully, and jerked the guide out of his step. I +saw Walters' ax shoot down in front, but the guide stuck to his, and +the blade dragging over the rough surface checked them a bit. For all +that, it looked as if they'd go straight to the bottom and they would +hardly have got there alive, but the small rock wasn't far below. I +don't think I breathed while I waited to see if it would bring them up. + +"Walters struck the rock first and was very quick with the rope; in +fact, I was astonished at his coolness, because he must have got a +heavy blow. He stopped the other fellow and they lay on the rock for a +few minutes. Then Walters shouted: 'He's not to be trusted, and I +can't climb back alone.' + +"Well, it was some moments before I could face the situation, but I +told him to get down as fast as he could and send a rescue party with +the other guide. He objected, but admitted that he saw no other plan, +and I felt desperately lonely as I watched them crawl down the +_couloir_. I don't know that I felt much worse afterwards, although it +began to snow and my hands and feet seemed to turn to ice; two of my +left fingers aren't of much use yet. The ledge was wide enough to sit +on, but slanted, and one had to be careful to keep from slipping off. +The snow stopped, but when dark came I'd given up hope of the rescue +party's arriving in time. As a matter of fact, they were nearly too +late, and I was in bed a month after they got me down; but Lucy can +tell you the rest. You see, she saved my life." + +A wave of color flushed Lucy's face. "When I reached the hotel I felt +uneasy, and when it got dark and Lawrence didn't come I was alarmed. I +had kept the guide who brought me home, and sent him to find some of +his friends at a ranch not far off. They went back to look for +Lawrence." + +"You went back," said Lawrence reprovingly. + +"As far as the first big crevasse; they wouldn't let me cross. But +before this we met Walters and the other guide, who was drunk. Walters +wanted to come with us, but I wouldn't allow him." + +"You thought he was too tired?" Foster suggested. + +"No," said Lucy quietly, "it wasn't altogether that." + +Foster saw she would say no more about it, which seemed significant, +and he let her go on. + +"There is not much more to tell," she said with a shiver. "I was very +anxious while I waited behind a hummock of ice, but at last I heard the +men coming; they were carrying Lawrence, who couldn't walk. We got him +down to the hotel--and I think that's all." + +"But what became of Walters?" Foster asked. + +"He stayed for a few days, and we were glad when he had to leave. He +was in the way when Lawrence was ill." + +"Thank you," said Foster gravely and was silent for a time. + +He understood why his comrade called Miss Stephen Lucy, although he had +not known her very long. She had, no doubt, saved his life by hurrying +off the rescue party and had afterwards taken care of him when he was +ill. He thought Lawrence lucky, but was not justified in +congratulating him yet, and had something else to think about. Lucy +suspected Walters, though Lawrence did not, and Foster imagined that +she had some ground for doing so. She had an object for making +Lawrence tell his story with full particulars, because it must have +been painful to recall the matter. + +"We'll say no more about it now, Miss Stephen," he remarked. "Lawrence +and I are old friends, and I'm heavily in your debt." + +Lucy looked up with a smile and blush, and Foster understood what she +meant when she answered: "I hope you will always be his friend." + + + + +XXV + +FOSTER SETS OFF AGAIN + +After dinner the party returned to the veranda, which was warm and well +lighted. Mrs. Stephen resumed her sewing, Lawrence settled himself +comfortably in his big chair, and Foster engaged Lucy in careless talk. +She had a pleasant voice and pretty, animated gestures, and after the +strain he had borne there was a charm in relaxing and lazily enjoying +the society of an attractive girl. The trouble was that he could not +be careless long. Lawrence was inclined to put off disagreeable +things, and would no doubt sooner leave disturbing subjects alone; but +Foster had only kept half his promise to Alice and time that might be +valuable was being lost. + +"Your adventure made an interesting story, Lawrence, but you took +unusual trouble to make us understand all that happened," he said at +length. + +Lawrence's gesture hinted at humorous resignation. "You're a restless +fellow, Jake, but I hoped you'd wait until to-morrow. You see, I've +been warned to keep quiet." + +Foster looked at Lucy and imagined that he had her support; she no +doubt knew his comrade's weakness for procrastination. + +"I'll try not to disturb you much," he replied. + +"Then you and Lucy insisted on my relating the thing at length. I felt +I had to indulge you." + +Lucy's smile hinted that Foster must be firm. "That wasn't quite +enough. You had another motive." + +"Oh, well," said Lawrence, "I suppose I wanted to recall the thing and +see how it looked in the light of what you told me about your exploits +in Scotland." + +"They make it look different, don't they?" Lucy remarked. + +Lawrence gave her a good-humored smile and then turned to Foster. +"Lucy's cleverer than I, but I really thought she was rather hard on +Walters." He paused for a moment, and then resumed thoughtfully: "You +must remember that my object was to keep out of Daly's way, and I +thought I was safe as long as I could do so. One would have expected +him to play a lone hand." + +"Didn't you think there was something suspicious about Walters' turning +up again after he'd learned your name? There then were rather too many +coincidences." + +"Suppose you enumerate them," Lawrence suggested. + +"He urged you to try the mountains and followed you to Banff. Then +I've no doubt he proposed the trip up the glacier, for which he chose +the guides. He sent the best back with Miss Stephen, and while this +was the proper thing, it's curious that the other guide got drunk. +Walters gave him your flask. Then he fell when he threw the rope--at +the only place where a fall would not have led to his shooting down the +_couloir_. Afterwards, although speed was urgent, he was very slow in +going back for help." + +"Besides, he knew exposure to the frost would be very dangerous for +you; you told him you had been ill," Lucy interposed. + +"I did," Lawrence agreed. "Of course if the fellow had wanted to make +an end of me, it's obvious that he took a clever line; but people don't +do that kind of thing for nothing. Suppose he was a friend of Daly's, +it certainly wouldn't have suited the latter's plans." + +"That," said Mrs. Stephen, "is what Lucy and I thought. You can be +frank, Mr. Foster, because we know Lawrence's story." + +"He was very wise to tell it you," Foster replied, and turned to his +partner. "You imagined that Daly only wanted to extort money? Well, +my explanation is that he had another object. We'll go back to the +night Fred Hulton was shot. You thought you saw the watchman in the +passage; was he far in front?" + +"Perhaps a dozen yards; it's a long passage." + +"He was going towards the office and stopped at the door, with his back +to the light?" + +"Yes; if he'd gone in I would have seen his face." + +"And the remark you made indicated that you thought him the watchman ?" + +"Suggested it," said Lawrence thoughtfully. "There might have been a +doubt." + +"Exactly! The man saw you. The light shone out from the office behind +him." + +"Yes," said Lawrence, "I see your point. I don't think the fellow +could have been certain I didn't get a glimpse of his face." + +"You said nothing about the meeting at the inquiry, which might look as +if you had been warned not to do so." + +"Nobody asked a question that led up to it. I didn't learn he wasn't +the watchman until afterwards." + +Foster turned to the others. "I think my story has shown you that we +have to deal with a gang of clever criminals. You'll note that +Lawrence saw the only man who knows the truth about Fred Hulton's +death." + +Mrs. Stephen made a sign of understanding. Lucy shivered, then her +eyes sparkled angrily, but Lawrence looked obstinate. + +"Jake," he said rather dryly, "you ought to have been a barrister! You +have made a clever use of the evidence, but it has some weak points and +leaves room for doubt. What are you going to do about it?" + +"I'm going to start again to-morrow to look for Daly," Foster replied. + +Lucy gave him a grateful glance, and Mrs. Stephen began to talk about +something else. By and by she turned to Lawrence, who looked tired, +and reminded him that it was past the time at which he ought to go to +bed. He grumbled a little but went, and soon afterwards Mrs. Stephen +left the others. Foster thought the girl wished this, but had not +noticed that she gave her mother a hint. He felt rather awkward, but +there was something to be said. + +"I suppose you are going to marry my partner," he remarked. + +"Yes," she replied, with a pretty flush. "Are you surprised?" + +"I'm not surprised that he should wish it. But somehow I hadn't +contemplated Lawrence's marrying." + +The girl's color deepened. "Are you very frank, or only tactless?" + +"I was stupid," said Foster with some confusion. "But I didn't mean +what you think. Far from it! My partner has made good, I'm glad you +had the wisdom and pluck to see this." + +"He is a very dear fellow," she answered with a soft gleam in her eyes +that moved Foster. Then she smiled. "You are forgiven--and I must +confess that at first my mother took the view I thought you hinted at. +She said Lawrence ought to wait until all risk of the past's being +brought to light was gone. But I suppose when you guessed the truth it +was something of a shock?" + +"No," said Foster. "Although I haven't known you long, I feel that I +won't lose my partner when he marries you. I was grateful when you +said you hoped I would always be his friend." + +Lucy nodded. "I saw you understood. Before we met I was rather +jealous of you--and curious. I think Lawrence sometimes makes mistakes +about people." + +"Walters, for example? Well, I like you to be careful about Lawrence, +but hope you don't feel anxious now you have seen me." + +"He needs a man friend and there's something about you that makes one +feel you can be trusted," said Lucy, who gave him a level glance. "You +look ingenuous, but perhaps that's deceptive, in a way. I mean that I +didn't quite understand you until you told us about your adventures in +Scotland." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "Carmen once said something like that, but she was +blunt. She told me I wasn't quite such a fool as I look. However, I +haven't much ground for boasting about my exploits. The main results +were that I got myself suspected by the police, warned off Daly, and +made Lawrence's father think I had murdered him. Now I'd much rather +look a simpleton than a homicide!" + +Lucy laughed, but her eyes were soft. "We all make mistakes, Mr. +Foster, but your object was good. Besides, I feel that you will carry +it out." + +Foster hesitated for a few moments, studying the girl. She had courage +and he liked the way she took care of his comrade. In some respects, +Lawrence needed to be guarded. + +"I hoped you would stop when your mother went," he said. + +She nodded. "Yes; I knew you had something to say." + +"It's important. But first of all, I expect you had a bad time when +Lawrence didn't come back from the mountain." + +"I shall not forget it," Lucy said with a shudder. "While I waited and +wondered why he didn't come I thought the anxiety intolerable, but it +was worse after we met Walters and the drunken guide. He wanted to +join us, but I knew he was somehow to blame." + +"Afterwards you had to wait alone upon the glacier. That wouldn't make +you think any better of him." + +"It did not," Lucy agreed, with a hard, fixed look. "I--you see, +Lawrence was my lover--I spent two or three hours in agonizing +suspense. I knew what I should feel when I stopped, but couldn't go on +with the others, because I might have kept them back. It was freezing +hard and now and then a little snow fell, but I scarcely noticed this; +I was listening, as I hope I shall never listen again. Sometimes the +ice cracked and a snow-bridge fell into the crevasse, but that was all, +and afterwards the silence was awful. It seemed as if the men would +never come. I couldn't go to meet them because of the crevasse; I +dream about the horrible black opening yet. Lawrence was on the other +side, out of my reach; he might be slowly freezing on the _couloir_, +and I couldn't help. But I knew he was suffering for Walters' +negligence or perhaps his treachery." + +Foster made a sign of sympathetic comprehension. "You hate him for +this?" + +"Yes," said Lucy frankly; "but not altogether because I'm vindictive. +The man who could make people suffer as Lawrence and I did ought to be +punished." + +"He ought. Well, I'm going to warn Lawrence, and no doubt the proper +thing would be to be satisfied with this, but somehow I'm not. You +see, Walters probably doesn't know we suspect him." + +The girl's eyes narrowed and Foster knew she was afraid, but did not +think fear was her strongest emotion. + +"You mean he may try again?" + +"That is what I mean. If he comes back, you must watch him, but keep +him here until I arrive. If it's impossible for me to come, send for +the police." + +"Yes," said Lucy quietly, "I'll try." + +"There's another risk," said Foster. "He may send an accomplice; +they're a well-organized gang. In this matter, I'd sooner trust you +than Lawrence." He stopped for a moment and gave her an apologetic +glance. "Perhaps I've done wrong to alarm and put this heavy load on +you." + +"No," she said resolutely. "I have promised to marry Lawrence and must +help him." + +Then she rose and gave Foster her hand. "I must thank you for your +confidence. If the need comes, I don't think I'll fail you." + +Foster felt satisfied when she left him. Lucy was clever and had +pluck. He had given her a hard part, but she would not shrink. One +could trust a woman who was fighting for her lover. + +After breakfast next morning, Mrs. Stephen showed Foster some +photographs of the mountains, in one or two of which Lucy and Lawrence +had a place, and he asked: "Have you a portrait of Walters?" + +"No; the man who took these was staying here, and one day asked Walters +to join the group he was posing, but he refused." + +"How did he get out of it?" + +Lawrence, who had come in with Lucy, laughed. "Rather neatly. Said he +was a modest sentimentalist and would sooner leave his memory printed +on our hearts!" + +"One must admit that he did something of the kind," Lucy remarked. + +"Will you or Mrs. Stephen describe his looks?" Foster asked. + +The girl did so and then inquired: "Why didn't you ask Lawrence?" + +"If you want an accurate description of a man, it's better to ask a +women. Our classifications are rather vague; we say he's all right, a +good sport, or perhaps an outsider. You note all his idiosyncrasies, +the way he talks, the color of his hair----" + +"I suppose we do," Mrs. Stephen agreed with a smile. "You are rather +shrewd." + +"I don't see why that should surprise my friends, but it sometimes +does," Foster rejoined and went to the flag station to ask about the +train. + +It stopped for him an hour later and he set off again on his search for +Daly, which was complicated by the need for being on his guard against +a man he did not know. It looked as if Walters had told Daly that +Lawrence was in British Columbia, and he had come out to join his +accomplice; but, after all, if Foster did not know Walters, the man did +not know him. Another thought gave him some comfort: Walters had +plotted against Lawrence because his evidence might be dangerous, but +probably knew nothing about Daly's blackmailing plan. The latter +would, no doubt, consider any money he could extort was his private +perquisite, and might try to protect his victim for a time. + +As the train sped through the mountains Foster felt very much at a +loss. Indeed, unless luck favored him, he thought he might as well +give up the search, and by and by got off at a mining town. He had no +particular reason for doing so, but felt that to go on to Vancouver +would be to leave the place where his last clew broke off too far away. + +The town, for the most part, was built of wood, and some of the smaller +and older houses of logs, with ugly square fronts that hid the roof. A +high, plank sidewalk ran down the main street, so that foot passengers +might avoid the mud, but the ruts and holes were now hidden by beaten +snow. At one end stood a big smelter, which filled the place with +acrid fumes, and the scream of saws rose from sheds beside the river, +where rusty iron smoke-stacks towered above sawdust dumps. The green +torrent was partly covered by cakes of grinding ice. All round, in +marked contrast to the utilitarian ugliness below, dark pines ran up to +the glittering snowfields on the shoulders of the peaks. Foster went +to a big new hotel, which he found dirty and too hot. Its bare walls +were cracked and exuded resin; black drops from the central heater +pipes stained the rotunda floor, which was torn by the spikes on the +river-Jacks' boots. An electric elevator made a horrible noise. The +supper he got in the big dining-room, where an electric organ played, +was, however, very good, and he afterwards sat rather drearily in the +rotunda, watching the men who came in and out through the revolving +door. + +There is not much domestic life in the new Western towns, whose +inhabitants, for the most part, live at hotels, and the rotundas of the +latter are used as a lounge by anybody who prefers them to the street. +In consequence, Foster could not tell who were guests and who were not. +By and by he filled his pipe, and a man who was lighting his held out +the match, which Foster took with a word of thanks. It might have been +a trifling politeness, but he thought the other had waited until he was +ready. + +"You're a stranger," the man remarked. + +"Yes," said Foster, "I've just come in." + +"Looking for business?" + +Foster quietly studied the man. He was neatly dressed and looked keen +and alert. It was possible that he was a storekeeper, or a real estate +agent, which is a common occupation in a Western town. + +"Well," he said, "I don't often let a chance of a trade go past, but +when you're in a strange place, the trouble is to tell if you've got a +snap or not." + +"Sure thing," agreed the other. "What's your line?" + +"Dressed lumber." + +"Then I can't do much for you, but there's quite a lot of new +construction planned and the boys will get busy as soon as the frost +breaks," said the man. + +He went on to talk about the trade of the town and province, and on the +whole Foster was glad he had been in British Columbia before and knew +something about the country. It was better to be cautious and he did +not want to show he came from the east. + +By and by another man crossed the floor and picked up a newspaper that +lay near. As he did so, he gave Foster a careless glance, and then +went back to the seat he had left. This was at some distance from the +heaters and near the entrance, to which people kept passing, but it +commanded the spot that Foster and his companion occupied. Foster, +however, could not detect him watching them, and soon afterwards the +other man went out. + +Nothing happened next day, but Foster stopped and in the evening called +for Pete, whom he had sent to a different hotel, and strolled down the +snowy street. It was very cold and few people were about. A half-moon +hung above the summit of the range, and the climbing pines cut in +ragged black masses against the snow. After crossing a bridge on the +outskirts of the town they stopped and looked about. + +A few half-finished houses stood among blackened stumps in a cleared +belt, where there were rubbish heaps and willows were springing up, but +a little farther on the forest rose in a shadowy wall. It was quiet +except for the roar of the river, and Foster shivered as he filled his +pipe. + +"It's a nipping wind. I'd better go down the bank a bit before I try +to get a light," he said. + +He pushed through the willows growing beside the creek, but dropped his +matchbox, and Pete came to help him in the search. They found it, but +before he could strike a match a man stopped at the end of the bridge +and looked back up the street. Foster, imagining he was the fellow who +had spoken to him at the hotel, touched Pete, and they stood very still. + +The man might have seen them had he glanced their way, although the +branches broke the outline of their figures, but he was looking back, +as if he expected somebody to come up behind, and after a few moments +went on again. He crossed the clearing towards a fence that seemed to +indicate a road following the edge of the forest, and vanished into the +gloom of the trees. Then, as Foster lighted his pipe, another man came +quickly across the bridge and took the same direction as the first. + +"I wunner if yon was what ye might ca' a coincidence," Pete said softly. + +"So do I, but don't see how it concerns us," Foster replied. "I think +we'll take the road straight in front." + +They followed a track that led through the bush at a right angle to the +other. The snow was beaten firm as if by the passage of logs or +sledges, and there were broad gaps among the trees, which rose in +ragged spires, sprinkled with clinging snow. In places, the track +glittered in the moonlight, but, for the most part, one side was marked +by a belt of gray shadow. After a time, they heard a branch spring +back; then there was a crackle of undergrowth, and a man came out of an +opening ahead. It was the man who had first passed them; Foster knew +him by his rather short fur coat. For no obvious reason and +half-instinctively, he drew back into the gloom. The man did not see +them and went on up the track. + +"Yon's a weel-kent trick in my trade," Pete remarked. "When it's no' +convenient to be followed, ye send an inquisitive pairson off on +anither road. But I would like to see if he has got rid o' the ither +fellow." + +They waited some minutes, but nobody else appeared, and Foster surmised +that the first man knew the ground and the other did not. The fellow +had vanished among the trees, but after a time they saw him again, +crossing a belt of moonlight some distance in front, and Foster felt he +must find out where he was going. + +By and by the indistinct figure vanished again, and pushing on +cautiously through the shadow, they came to a clearing at the foot of +the range. Steep rocks rose above the narrow open space, but although +the trail went no farther there was nobody about. Standing behind a +fir trunk, Foster searched the edge of the bush, but saw nothing except +a ruined shack and some ironwork sticking out of the snow. He could +not examine the shack, because if the other man was near he would see +him when he left the trees. After waiting a few minutes, he touched +Pete and they turned back silently. + + + + +XXVI + +THE REAL-ESTATE AGENT + +Next morning Foster got up in the dark and walked briskly down the main +street to the bridge. Lights were beginning to blink in the houses he +passed and there was a pungent smell of burning wood. In front, the +forest rolled upwards in a blurred, dark mass, but he could not see the +mountains. The air was still and felt damp upon his skin, and he knew +a sudden rise of temperature accounted for the obscurity. The main +thing, however, was that there was nobody to watch him, and he set off +along the road he had taken on the previous night. + +He had some trouble to keep the trail when he plunged in among the +trees, but day had broken when he reached the clearing, and a faint +gray light shone through the haze. There was no obvious reason why the +stranger's disappearance at the spot should interest him, but his +suspicions were quickly excited and it looked as if the fellow had +tried to make his acquaintance in order to learn his business in the +town. He had come early, hoping to find footprints that might give him +a hint, but was disappointed. There were a number of marks, but they +had lost their sharpness and he could not tell which had been made +recently. + +In the meantime, the light was growing and he saw that the shack at the +foot of the rocks had partly fallen down. Thick wooden beams and props +lay beside the ironwork he had noticed on his last visit. It was +obvious that he was looking at a mineral claim that had been abandoned +after some development work had been done, while the trampled snow +indicated that somebody had been removing the material not long since. +Passing the heap of rusty iron, from which the snow was beginning to +shrink, he found a narrow opening in the foot of the hill. This was a +test adit, and the tilt of the strata indicated that its slope was +steep. The stone that had been taken out showed that it did not +penetrate far, and Foster saw no reason for entering. + +He next studied the rocks, and although he saw no path, imagined that +one could get up that way, but could not see why anybody should wish to +do so, and the snow did not seem to have been disturbed. After a +minute or two he turned back into the wood with a gesture of +disappointment. + +The man he had followed had apparently come there to meet somebody, but +although the mine was conveniently near the town it was a cold and +cheerless spot for a rendezvous, Foster surmised from this that secrecy +was important, but after all there was nothing to indicate that the +matter had anything to do with him. As he went back he heard a musical +humming in the tops of the pines and a lump of wet snow, slipping from +a branch, struck his face. The humming grew louder until the wood was +filled with sound, and he began to feel clammy and hot. A warm Chinook +wind from the Pacific was sweeping up the valley, driving back the +frost. + +When he reached the town the snow was wet and the lights were out, but +the post office was open, and having telegraphed his new address, he +went in to ask if there was any mail for him. A girl was busy behind a +lettered brass wicket, but did not look up, and Foster saw the man in +whom he was interested standing among some others farther along the +counter. The fellow came towards him. + +"Been for a walk?" he said. "You get up early." + +"I'm used to that," Foster answered with a careless smile. "Anyhow, I +want my mail, and you enjoy breakfast better if you've been out first." + +"Sure thing," agreed the other. "But you want to put on rubber shoes +when a Chinook wind strikes this town." + +Then the girl clerk looked up and when Foster inquired for letters +threw him two. His companion asked for his, giving the name of +Telford, and she indicated the lettering on the wicket. + +"Farther along, where you came from! Can't you read the alphabet?" + +"I can, now I see it," said the other good-humoredly as he turned back. + +On the whole, Foster was glad he had picked up the letters as the girl +threw them down. It is customary in Western cities for people to call +for their mail and girl clerks are sometimes curt, but she seemed to +think it strange that the fellow had come to the wrong wicket. If he +had had an object for doing so, he had learned Foster's name, but the +latter did not think he had seen the postmarks or that one letter had +an English stamp. Still, he had noted that Foster's boots were wet, +which indicated that the latter had gone farther than the post office. + +He went out before he opened the envelopes, and then glancing at the +letters put them in his pocket with a thrill of satisfaction, meaning +to read them carefully after breakfast. Entering the hotel, he hung up +his coat and went to the dining-room. He was promptly served, and when +he went out after finishing his meal, saw Telford, who had apparently +just returned from the post office, standing in the passage, which was +rather dark. It looked as if he had been hanging up his coat, but he +stood near Foster's, and then moved on abruptly as another man came up. + +Foster met them and saw that the last was the man whom he had +half-suspected of watching Telford on the first evening. As he passed, +he took the letters from his coat, and entering the rotunda sat down +and lighted his pipe. It was possible that Telford had meant to search +his pockets, but had been prevented by the appearance of the other, and +Foster frowned. He was feeling the strain of the constant watchfulness +and getting tired of intrigue. As a matter of fact, he hated that kind +of thing, and it would be a keen relief when he could attend to his +proper business and finish with the need for caution. In the meantime, +he did not know if he had found a fresh clew or not. After all, he had +not much ground for suspecting Telford. + +Then Foster forgot his perplexities as he took out the letters. The +first was from Lucy Stephen, who said that the doctor had visited +Lawrence and was satisfied with his progress. She added that Foster +knew Lawrence disliked writing letters, but she wanted to reassure him +and wish him good luck. The note was short, but seemed to put Foster +on a footing of intimate friendship that he was grateful for, and he +thought Lucy had written with this object. + +The other was from Alice Featherstone and his heart beat as he studied +it. She did not say much; they had still no news of Lawrence and her +father was very restless and anxious, while she feared her mother felt +the suspense. But she knew Foster would make every effort and would +not fail them; there was nobody else who could help. All she said +struck a note of quiet confidence. Her faith was unshaken; she trusted +him. + +Foster thrilled and his weariness and dejection vanished. Alice would +have got Lawrence's telegram soon after she wrote and she had proof of +his honesty now. Still, he had only kept half his promise, and +although he had undertaken a task that needed abilities he doubted if +he possessed, he meant to keep the other half. He was hemmed in by +difficulties and might make mistakes, but somehow he was going to make +good. + +For a time he sat in a corner, recalling what Alice had said in England +and how she had looked. He pictured her standing in the dark-paneled +library at the Garth, with eyes that sparkled as she spoke in his +defense, sitting with a smile in the half-light by the big hearth in +the hall, and waiting for him in the orchard. She moved through all +the scenes with the same calm grace; even in her anger--and he had seen +her angry--there was a proud reserve. But Alice stood above all other +women; there was nobody like her. + +Then he got up with a resolute movement. Dreams and memories would not +help, and he must get to work. To begin with, he would try to find out +something about Telford, and went to the office, where the clerk was +unoccupied. As a rule, nobody knows more about everybody else's +business than the clerk of a Western hotel. + +"Is there much doing in real estate just now?" he asked. + +"There will be soon. The mines are paying well and the bosses are +planning new developments. Then there's a big scheme for opening up +the ranching land in the bench country. That means a bigger city. Are +you looking for building lots?" + +"My line's dressed lumber, but when you get a building boom you want +material. I suppose Mr. Telford does a good trade?" + +"Talks as if he was going to, but he hasn't begun yet," the clerk +replied with a smile that hinted that he had expected the inquiry. + +"Then he hasn't been here long?" + +"Only came into town a week since," said the clerk, rather dryly. +"When things look like humming these fellows generally do come along. +But you want to go slow when you deal with a real-estate man, unless +you know all about him." + +"Yes," said Foster thoughtfully, "as a rule, that's true. Thank you, +anyhow." + +He went back to his seat and lighted his pipe again. He had learned +that Telford was a stranger and had apparently thought it advisable to +account for his visiting the town. Foster saw that he ought to have +guessed the fellow was not a resident when he asked for his mail, +because had he been in business in the city he would have had his +private box at the post office. Moreover he imagined that the clerk +knew he really wanted to find out something about Telford, and thought +him clumsy, but this did not matter. He had been told he had an +ingenuous look, which was rather an advantage, since it suited the part +he meant to play. He did not want people to think him clever, but they +must not suspect that he was pretending to be dull. Remembering his +mistakes, he smiled as he admitted that there was not much danger of +this. By and by Telford came in and sat down in the next chair. + +"Nothing doing this morning and the street's all mush," he said. "If +you're not busy, would you like a game of pool?" + +Foster agreed. His only business was to find out Telford's, and the +man had given him an opportunity. The pool room is an institution in +Canadian towns, but is not, as a rule, much frequented in the morning +when trade is good. They had no trouble in getting a table and began +to play for a small stake, which Telford insisted on. Foster did not +know much about pool, and indeed had seldom had time for games, but he +had a steady hand and, somewhat to his surprise, won. Telford, who +raised the stake, won the next game, but was afterwards beaten. + +In the meantime, Foster had studied his game. The man made some clever +strokes, but bungled others. He was not steady enough, but on the +whole Foster imagined he meant to let him win. For all that, he did +not think the other was playing a common trick with the object of +leading him on. The amount of the stake was not large enough for this. + +"Well," said Telford, "I guess you're too good for me. Suppose we sit +down and take a smoke. I'll play you again another day." + +"What you want to do is to let up on the drinks the night before," +remarked a man who was standing by. "If you were as cool and steady as +he is, you'd beat him easy." + +"Perhaps that's so," said Telford with a good-humored laugh and gave +Foster a cigar. + +"Are you going to make expenses this trip?" he asked. + +"I can't say yet," Foster replied. "Anyhow, you don't lose much by +taking a look round, and I sometimes go outside my regular line." + +"Well, if you feel like speculating in building lots, I might put you +wise." + +Foster pondered. He knew that gambling on unused land was popular in +Canada, in spite of taxes planned to prevent it, and while there are +respectable real estate agents, the fringe of the profession is +occupied by sharpers who prey upon what is fast becoming a national +vice. Confiding strangers with money to invest are often swindled, and +there was an obvious motive for Telford's trying to cultivate his +acquaintance. On the whole, however, he did not think the fellow meant +to victimize him in this way, though he was perhaps willing that Foster +should suspect him of such a plan. If so, it might be better to +indulge him. + +"As a rule, I have a use for all the money I've got," he remarked. +"Still if I could find a lot that was bound to go up----" + +The other followed the lead and talked about city extension and the +development of the neighboring land. He seemed to know his subject, +and Foster was beginning to think his suspicions mistaken when Telford +carelessly interpolated a few adroit questions about his usual +occupation. The questions were difficult to answer without telling +more than it was advisable that the other should know, or, what was +equally to be avoided, showing that Foster was on his guard. He was +now nearly sure that the fellow was an accomplice of Daly's, and the +line he had resolved on would be difficult. + +He had to deal with a clever rogue who probably knew something about +him and meant to find out more. In consequence, there was no use in +trying to pose as an unsophisticated simpleton; he must, so to speak, +play up to the fellow and persuade him that any suspicions he +entertained were about the latter's designs upon his money. With this +object, he disputed some of Telford's opinions and presently proved a +statement of his wrong. + +Telford looked embarrassed and Foster thought he did it very well. + +"Perhaps I was putting it a bit too high, but the deal ought to turn +out a snap if you can wait a while," he said, and laughed. "Anyhow +I've got to give you bedrock facts after the way you caught me out. +Say, you're pretty smart!" + +"You're apt to get stung over a land deal unless you're careful," +Foster modestly replied. + +It was a relief when Telford said they would stop talking business and +proposed a visit to a bar. Foster felt mentally exhausted and thought +a drink would brace him. He did not see Telford at dinner and kept out +of his way during the afternoon, but the man came into the dining-room +when supper was served. The room was large and furnished with separate +tables, but Foster thought he knew the faces of the regular customers +and noticed that a stranger sat at a table by himself. + +Telford made for this table, which seemed natural, since there was most +room there, but a few moments afterwards the man whom Foster suspected +of watching him left his place. Crossing the floor carelessly, but in +such a way that a pillar hid his approach, he sat down near the other +two. Foster admitted that he might not have remarked this had he not +been suspicious and keenly watchful. The thing looked significant, +particularly when a waitress came across, frowning, with some dishes. +The man must have had an object for changing his place after he had +given his order, because in the small Canadian towns waitresses deal +firmly with troublesome customers. + +Telford did not seem to know the stranger and did not speak until the +man politely handed him a cruet-stand. He did not say much after this, +but Foster could not see him without leaning forward, because some +other people sat down between. Still he felt a puzzling curiosity +about the fellow, and after supper went to the rotunda where the man +presently sat down not far off. He was young and vigorous, but walked +with a slight limp as if one knee was stiff. His eyes were dark and he +had a rather engaging smile when one of the rest offered him a +newspaper. Telford was not about, but the other man strolled in. + +Foster's curiosity got stronger. He could not remember having met the +man he was studying, but had a vague feeling that he ought to know him. +The strange thing was that he had not expected him to limp, but this +was perhaps accounted for by his athletic figure. After a time, the +fellow put down the newspaper and went off towards the bar, while +Foster, who found he had run out of tobacco, went to his room. + +When he got out of the elevator, he saw the other going along a passage +in front, which he thought curious, because he could not have stayed +more than a few moments in the bar. Moreover his limp was not +noticeable now he imagined himself alone. Foster went on quietly, +keeping his distance, and knitted his brows in thoughtful surprise when +the other opened a door. The man, who did not seem to know Telford, +had gone into his room. + +When the door shut he heard another step and saw, as he had +half-expected, the man who had watched Telford entering the passage, +Foster immediately turned his head and went on to his room, where he +sat down in the nearest chair. He had got something of a shock, since +he now knew why he had studied the fellow with the limp. His brain had +been unconsciously occupied with a description Lucy Stephen had given +him. The man who had gone into Telford's room was Walters. + + + + +XXVII + +THE MINE + +When Foster was thinking of going to bed Pete, whom he had not seen all +day, came into the rotunda, and Foster remarked that his boots were +very wet. + +"It's saft ootside an' I've been paidlin' in the snow," he said and, +with the poacher's instinctive caution, put his feet out of sight +beneath a table. + +"Where have you been in the dark?" Foster asked. + +"I thought I'd maybe better watch the bridge over yon bit creek." + +Foster frowned. It looked as if he had not much talent for detective +work and could only concentrate upon one point at a time. While he had +been content to watch what was going on at the hotel, Pete had watched +the bridge, and had found out something. Foster admitted that such +success as he had had was rather due to luck than ability. + +"Well," he said, "what did you see there?" + +"To begin with, the man we followed cam' doon the street and went into +a shop; and I allooed they might keep something I wanted. He bought a +basket." + +"A basket?" + +"Just that," said Pete. "One o' they cheap baskets ye put grosseries +in when ye gang by train." + +Foster nodded. On Canadian railways, economical second-class +passengers often carry provisions instead of using the meal stations. + +"He bought some tinned meat and biscuits," Pete resumed. "Then some +tea and a wee spirit-stove." + +"There's no train until to-morrow and I imagine the fellow wouldn't be +satisfied with canned meat, so long as he could get something better +when the cars stopped." + +Pete grinned. "I'm no' saying he meant to tak' the train. It looked +mair like he was going to picnic in the woods." + +"Ah!" said Foster abruptly. "I suppose you followed the man?" + +"Far enough to see him tak' the road we went. Then I cam' back. Ye +see, I kent where he was going." + +Foster made a sign of agreement, because it was obvious that Telford +was going to the shack at the mine. He understood how the fellow had +got out without his seeing him, since it is usual in Canada to have a +separate entrance to a hotel bar and he had stupidly been satisfied +with watching the hall. + +"He has gone to meet somebody; but why did he take the provisions?" + +"Maybe he wanted to give them to the ither man." + +"But why should the other need the food?" + +"Weel," said Pete, "if I was looking for a hidie-hole convenient to the +town, I'd no' find much fault with yon' auld mine. Maybe it's dry, an' +the frost wouldna' get far in." + +Foster started, for he thought Pete had guessed right. He and Lawrence +had camped in the open in colder weather than was often felt in British +Columbia, and as wood was plentiful, there was no reason the man should +not make a fire after dark, if he could find an outlet for the smoke. +He must now find out who was hiding in the mine, but thought he knew, +for vague suspicions suddenly got clear. + +To begin with, the fellow who watched Telford at the hotel was either a +policeman or a private detective in Hulton's pay. Then Foster had lost +Daly's track at Banff, which was not very far off, and taking it for +granted that Telford belonged to the gang, it was logical to suppose +that he had arranged a meeting with Daly and Walters. On arrival Daly +had found that the town was watched, but was either unable to leave it +without being followed or detained by his business with the others. In +consequence, he had taken refuge in the mine. + +Foster sent Pete away and smoked another pipe. He would have liked to +visit the mine at once, but if he went, would meet Telford coming back +or find him when he reached the spot, and he must see Daly alone. He +ought, of course, to warn the man he thought a detective, but did not +mean to do so, and this resolve brought up a problem he had tried to +solve before: what could he offer Daly in return for his keeping +Lawrence's secret? + +If the fellow had killed Fred Hulton, it was unthinkable that he should +help him to escape. Foster felt that he had perhaps, in a sense, +already become Daly's accomplice, but meant to save his comrade and +keep his promise to Alice. He would see Daly in the morning and decide +then what line to take; after all, luck might help him again. Then he +knocked out his pipe and went to bed. + +After breakfast next morning he called for Pete and walked carelessly +to the main bridge. He, however, took his pistol and when they reached +the woods Pete cut a heavy stick. Foster did not expect to use force, +but it was better to be prepared. While Pete was trimming his cudgel +they heard the heavy snorting of a locomotive and a plume of smoke +moved across the town. Then they saw through an opening in the trees +the cars roll along the mountain side. The Montreal express had +stopped on its journey east, but Foster was preoccupied and thought +nothing of this. + +The snow was very soft when they plodded up the path among the trees, +but it was not far to the clearing, and Foster stopped at its edge. He +had met nobody, and the woods were silent except for the dying roar of +the train, which came faintly down the valley. There was no smoke, but +Daly would put out his fire when it got light. Crossing the wet snow +noiselessly, he made for the shack and when he reached it beckoned to +Pete. + +"Stay here for about ten minutes, and then if I'm not back, you had +better come in," he said. "If anybody runs out, don't let him pass." + +Pete's nod showed he understood and Foster, moving forward quietly, +stopped again for a moment at the mouth of the adit. Pete had +vanished, but could be trusted to watch the mine as a terrier watches a +rat-hole, and Foster knew that if he were attacked and overcome his +assailant would not escape. A gray sky hung over the black tops of the +firs and the wet snow threw up a curious livid light. It was an +unpleasant raw morning, and Foster felt half daunted. + +The adit was dark; he was embarking on a rash adventure, and wondered +with some misgivings what would happen before he came out again. He +heard nothing, and it was rather curious that he could not smell smoke, +but bracing himself he stooped and crept into the dark hole. + +The floor sloped, following the inclination of the strata, and seemed +to be strewn with fallen stones, but he had put on rubber shoes and +made very little noise. He did not want to warn Daly that his +hiding-place had been discovered, until he was near enough to explain +that he had nothing to do with the police. There would not be much +danger when the fellow knew who he was and that the mine was watched, +but he wanted to get as close as possible before alarming him. Daly, +no doubt, carried a pistol. + +Stopping for a moment, he raised his head incautiously and smothered an +exclamation when he struck it against the roof. He could hear water +dripping somewhere below and the slope felt steep. It was nervous work +creeping down hill in the dark, and there was, perhaps, a risk of his +falling into a pit. When he dislodged a stone that rattled he held his +breath as he listened. He heard nothing, and set his lips as he +overcame an impulse to turn back. If Daly had heard the stone, he was +probably waiting for him with his finger on the trigger. + +For all that, Foster went on, feeling for the rough wall, until he +struck his foot against a big stone and losing his balance staggered +and fell. He made a noise that echoed through the adit and, worse than +all, the pistol shot out of his hand. He felt for but could not find +it, and for a few moments lay still with tingling nerves. Daly must +have heard him and was, no doubt, crouching in the dark, ready to +shoot. He tried again to find the pistol, and then with an effort +pulled himself together. The next move might draw a shot, but he must +risk that and not lie there helpless. Besides, if the fellow missed, +he might grapple with and disarm him, and he sprang to his feet. + +"Daly!" he called in a voice that he meant to be careless but was +rather hoarse. "It's Foster. I want to talk about Featherstone." + +There was no reply. He heard water falling into a pool, but except for +this the mine was strangely silent, and after waiting for a moment he +drew back against the rock. + +"Pete!" he shouted. + +His voice sounded muffled and he wondered whether Pete could hear, but +tried to fix his attention on the dark in front. It was there that +danger might lurk. Then he heard Pete stumbling among the stones, and +presently the man came up, panting with haste. + +"Where's the lamp?" Foster asked. + +He knew he was going to do a dangerous thing if Daly was hiding near, +but something must be risked and he struck a match. It sputtered, +throwing an illusive gleam on the wet rock a yard or two in front, and +then went out. Foster struck another with a hoarse exclamation and +touched the wick of a small, flat, metal lamp, such as Western miners +hook on their hats. Candles are not common in Canadian towns where +water-power makes electric lighting cheap. The lamp gave a dim smoky +light, and when Foster picked up his pistol they waited a few moments, +looking eagerly in front. + +A trickle of water fell from a crack in the roof and running down the +floor of the adit vanished into the gloom. Here and there a ragged +projection caught the light, but the rest of the tunnel was hidden in +impenetrable darkness. They went on cautiously, though Foster now felt +anxious because there was no sign of Daly. After a minute or two, the +light fell on a wall of dry rock with a pool at the bottom, and he knew +they had reached the end of the adit. Next moment he saw there was an +opening to one side where some ore had been taken out. If Daly was in +the mine, he was there, and warning Pete with a sign, he turned the +comer. + +The light showed a small, dry chamber, strewn with sharp stones, some +of which had been put together to make a hearth. Between these lay the +ashes of a fire; bits of food were scattered about, and a blue Hudson's +Bay blanket lay in a corner. Except for this, the chamber was empty. +Foster savagely clenched his fist while Pete stirred the ashes and felt +the blanket. + +"It's dry an' the reek o' a cigar is fresh on it," he said. "Yon +fire's no' been oot lang. I'm thinking it's a pity we didna' come last +night." + +Foster sat down and looked about. He was getting calm, but felt dull +with disappointment. For all that, he saw why the mine had been +abandoned. There was a fault in the strata, where the vein had slipped +down, but the subsidence had cracked the rock above and he imagined +that the fissure reached the surface. The air was fresh and not very +cold; there was water close by, and Foster saw no reason why Daly +should not have found the chamber a comfortable hiding-place. Yet he +had left it. + +"Can you see the basket you talked about?" he asked, giving Pete the +lamp. + +Pete found it behind some stones and they examined it together. + +"Here's the spirit-stove, some bread, and the can of meat," said +Foster. "But I see no biscuits. Can he have eaten them?" + +"There were ower mony. He's ta'en them with him." + +"Well," said Foster thoughtfully, "I don't see why the other fellow +brought him provisions he didn't need." + +"Maybe something happened since he brought the basket," Pete suggested. + +Foster pondered. It was possible that something had happened at the +hotel after Telford's visit that had altered the accomplices' plans, or +made it easier for Daly to get away; but, if this were so, Telford must +have gone back to the mine. He might have done so, but Foster thought +Daly had perhaps not taken his confederate altogether into his +confidence and had changed his plans without warning him. Foster could +not tell what chance the fellow had of stealing away, but as he had +left the basket and only taken some biscuits, it looked as if he did +not expect to go very far on foot. + +"We'll get out and try to find which way he's gone," he said. + +It was a relief to reach the open air, and they carefully studied the +sloppy snow. Foster knew something about tracking elk and moose, and +Pete had a poacher's skill, but the rapid thaw had blurred the +footprints they found. On the whole, however, Pete imagined that +Telford had returned to the mine since his visit on the previous +evening. + +Then they searched about the foot of the rocks and presently found +marks that showed where somebody had climbed. Getting up, they +followed the marks to a beaten trail that ran along the hillside from +the town to a neighboring mine. There was nothing to be learned here +and Foster went back dejectedly to the hotel. Dinner was being served +when he arrived, but he did not see Walters and felt annoyed when +Telford stopped him as he was coming out. + +"I haven't seen you since last night and thought we might have had a +game," he said. "Where have you been all morning?" + +"I didn't come here to play pool," Foster replied. "There was +something I had to see about." + +"Then I hope you found business pretty good," Telford remarked with a +quiet smile that Foster found disturbing. + +He thought the fellow would see him if he went to the clerk's office, +and beckoning the bell-boy into a passage gave him a coin. + +"Do you know if the lame gentleman with the dark hair is out?" he asked, + +"He's certainly out. Left on the Montreal express this morning." + +"You're quite sure of that?" + +"Yep," said the lad. "I put his baggage in the transfer wagon for the +depot." + +Foster went to the rotunda and sat down to smoke. He felt savage, for +there was no doubt that he had muddled things. Daly had again escaped +him, but he thought he saw what Walters' visit meant. Three of the +gang had met to make some plot, which might threaten Lawrence, whom +they no doubt thought dangerous. It was ominous that Walters had gone +east. Daly was obviously afraid of arrest, but the others seemed to +think themselves safe and Telford was stopping at the hotel, although +it looked as if he were being watched. Foster wondered whether the +fellow suspected this. + +Another matter demanded consideration. News of what he had done in +Newcastle had probably reached the gang, and he had a check belonging +to a member of it in his wallet. If they knew this, which was +possible, he might be in some danger, and taking it for granted that +the watcher was a detective or acting for Hulton, it would simplify +things and free him from a grave responsibility if he told what he +knew. For all that, he did not mean to do so. His object was to save +his comrade's name. + +In the afternoon he played pool with Telford, who carelessly asked him +a few clever questions, which Foster answered with a misleading +frankness that he hoped would put the other off the track. In the +evening he read the newspapers and tried to overcome a growing anxiety +about Lawrence. He ought to follow Daly, but did not know where he had +gone, and thought that if he waited Telford might give him a clew. + +There were no letters for him next morning, but soon after breakfast +the bell-boy brought him a telegram and he tore open the envelope. The +message was from Lucy Stephen and read: + +"Mountaineering friend just arrived. Snow dangerous now. Would feel +safer if you could join us. Come if possible." + +For a moment or two Foster sat still, with his face set. Lucy was +guarded, but the mountaineering friend was Walters and she had given +him an urgent hint that he was needed. Then he picked up a railroad +folder that lay near and noting the time of Walters' arrival, saw that +the telegram had been delayed. After this he glanced at his watch and +ran out into the street. + +A trail of black smoke moved across the roofs and he heard the roll of +wheels as the heavy train climbed the incline. He had got Lucy's +warning ten minutes too late, and could not leave until next day. + + + + +XXVIII + +THE LOG BRIDGE + +Lawrence had gone to his room to rest and Lucy Stephen was sitting +alone in the veranda when she heard the roar of an east-bound train +coming up the valley. It stopped, which did not often happen, and she +put down her book and looked out at the opening in the pines that led +to the track. The smoke that rose into the clear, cold air began to +move, and Lucy frowned, because the train had just stopped long enough +for passengers to alight. Although the hotel was generally full in +summer, there were then only a few other guests, quiet people whose +acquaintance she had made, and she did not wish Lawrence to be +disturbed by new arrivals. He was getting better, but not so quickly +as she wished. Besides, she had another ground for anxiety. + +A man came up the road between the pines. It was a relief to see one +man instead of a party, but she went to the glass front and watched him +with keen curiosity. He vanished among the trees where the road curved +and when he came out not far off she set her lips. It was Walters and +her vague fears were realized, but he would not reach the hotel for a +few minutes and this gave her time to brace herself. + +Ringing a bell, she asked for a telegraph form and hurriedly filling it +up, said to the waiting lad, "Take this down to the office." + +The lad wore a smart uniform and was called a page, but he had the +pertness that generally marks the bellboy in Western hotels. + +"Certainly, miss. But I reckon I'll be wanted when the stranger who's +coming up the road gets here. Guess it will be all right if I take +your message when he's fixed." + +Lucy, who scarcely heard, sent the page away. Walters would arrive in +a minute or two, and now she had warned Foster she thought she had +better not avoid him. If she hid her distrust, she might find out +something, and she would sooner he saw her before he met Lawrence. +There was nobody else in the veranda just then. Walters came in with a +smile that somehow intensified her antagonism, but she waited calmly, +although she did not give him her hand. + +"It looks as if you were rather surprised to see me," he remarked. + +"I am," said Lucy. "Perhaps that's not unnatural!" + +He laughed and since she did not suggest his sitting down, remained +standing in a rather graceful pose. She meant to hide her real +feelings if she could, but as she had been angry when he left it was +better that he should think her angry now. A marked change in her +attitude would be illogical and might excite suspicion. + +"I suppose that means you blame me for Lawrence's illness and haven't +forgiven me yet?" he suggested. + +"I do blame you. You let the guide get drunk and left Lawrence on the +_couloir_. Then you were a long time coming back, when you knew the +danger he was in." + +"Well," said Walters in an apologetic tone, "I suppose all this is +true, but I must point out that when we slipped down the gully it was +impossible to get up again. Then there were some big crevasses in the +glacier and I had a half-drunk man to help across; I really didn't know +he would drink too much when I gave him the flask. However, although +perhaps I was rather careless, I hope you won't forbid my seeing +Lawrence." + +"I couldn't forbid your seeing him, as you must know." + +"You couldn't, in a sense," Walters agreed. "Still, of course, your +wishes go a long way with him, and I imagine he is what one might call +amenable." + +"I don't understand that." + +Walters smiled. "I always found Lawrence good-humored and it would +surprise me if he did anything you didn't like. I don't know that I +can go farther without venturing on an open compliment. But I'm +anxious to know how he is." + +"He is getting better, but must be kept quiet for some time. But why +did you come here?" + +"It ought to be obvious," Walters replied in a tone of mild protest. +"You blame me for my friend's illness, and though I don't know what I +left undone, I am, in a sense, responsible; anyway, I was with him. +Well, I found I had to go east, and determined to put off my business +for a day or two so I could stop over and see how he is getting on." + +"You may see him. But you must remember that he isn't strong and needs +quietness." + +"I'll be very careful," Walters said with a grateful look. "May I take +it that your consent is a sign that you'll try to forgive me for my +share in the accident?" + +Lucy forced a smile. "We'll see how you keep your promise." + +She sat down, feeling rather limp, when he left her. He had, on the +surface, taken a very proper line, and his excuse for coming was +plausible, but she knew that it was false. The man had meant to leave +her lover to freeze among the rocks and was horribly clever. It was +hard to preserve her calm when she hated and feared him, and although +she thought she had not acted badly, the interview had been trying. +Besides, Lawrence was generous and not very discriminating. Walters +might find a way of disarming the suspicions Foster had roused. + +When the page showed Walters to his room, he said to the lad, "I want +somebody to go to the station for my bag. Have they a telegraph +office?" + +"Yep; I'm going down to send a wire. Office isn't open long. Agent +quits as soon as the east-bound freight comes through." + +"I suppose the wire's from Miss Stephen?" + +The page nodded and Walters gave him twenty-five cents. "Well, if you +can wait a little, I'll have a message to send; it will save you a +journey." + +The boy hesitated; but the money banished his doubts. "All right; +you'd better get it written. The freight's nearly due." + +Walters went to Lawrence's room before he wrote the telegram, and met +Lucy again at dinner. There were only two tables in use in the large +dining-room, and the waiter sent him to Mrs. Stephen's. Lucy wondered +whether Walters had arranged this with the man beforehand, but it gave +her an opportunity of watching him and she did not object. She +admitted that he had nerve and tact, for although she feared him and +her mother shared her distrust, he was able to banish the constraint +both felt and amuse the party. Lucy could not tell what Lawrence +thought, but he laughed at the other's stories and now and then +bantered him. + +After dinner Walters left them and when they went; to Mrs. Stephen's +sitting-room Lucy remarked rather sharply: "You seemed to find Walters +amusing!" + +"He is amusing," Lawrence answered. "In fact, the fellow puzzles me." + +"You mean he couldn't talk in that good-humored, witty way if he had +plotted to leave you on the _couloir_?" + +"Well," said Lawrence, "I suppose I did feel something of the kind." + +"I don't know that it's very logical," Lucy rejoined, hiding her alarm. +"You agreed with Foster's conclusions when he was here." + +"I did, to some extent. The way Jake argued out the matter made things +look pretty bad." + +"But they look better now? Walters was talking to you in your room?" + +"He didn't say much about our climb; just a word or two of regret for +his carelessness in not seeing what had happened to the guide." + +"Words that were very carefully chosen, no doubt!" + +"Well," said Lawrence, "I'm frankly puzzled; the more I think about our +adventure, the harder it is to decide how much one could hold Walters +accountable for. It _was_ difficult to throw me up the rope without +slipping, and there was only a small, projecting rock, on which he +might have broken his bones, to prevent his tobogganing to the bottom. +If he had slid past it, he would have been killed." + +"Walters wouldn't hesitate about a risk. It might have looked like an +accident if you hadn't heard Foster's story." + +Lawrence knitted his brows, rather impatiently. "After all, Jake's a +romantic fellow, and his explanation's theatrical." + +"You don't like theatrical things," Mrs. Stephen interposed. "You must +admit that they happen, but you feel it's ridiculous that they should +happen to you." + +"I imagine I do feel that," Lawrence agreed with a smile. "When they +happen to somebody else they're not so unnatural." + +Lucy tried to preserve her self-control, but her tone was sharp as she +said, "Then you feel inclined to forgive Walters the pain and illness +he caused you." + +"It would be harder to forgive him your anxiety," Lawrence rejoined, +and his face set hard. "In fact, if I knew he really had plotted the +thing------" He paused and resumed: "One would be justified in killing +a brute who could do what you imagine, but there's a difference between +hating a crime and punishing the man accused of it before you have +proved his guilt. In the meantime, I'm trying to keep an open mind." + +"But you will be careful and not trust him far," Lucy urged. + +"I'll run no risks; I've some ground for being cautious." + +Lucy said no more. Lawrence was not well yet and sometimes got +obstinate if one argued with him. She thought he would be prudent, but +it was comforting to remember that she had telegraphed for his comrade. +Unfortunately, she did not know that her message was then in the page's +pocket. He had waited some time for Walters' telegram, and when he +reached the station found the agent gone. In consequence, fearing a +reprimand, he resolved to send the messages in the morning and say +nothing about the matter. + +The next day was clear and calm, with bright sunshine on the snow, and +Mrs. Stephen agreed when Lawrence insisted on going for a short walk +with her and some of the guests. Walters joined the party, although +Lucy tried to leave him behind, and they leisurely climbed a winding +path among the pines. The snow was thin and crisp beneath the trees, +the air exhilarating, and through openings they caught glimpses of +fissured glaciers, rocks that glistened in the steely light, and +majestic glittering peaks. The pines were straight and tall, and the +great soft-colored trunks rose in long climbing ranks against the blue +shadow on the snow. + +They stopped for a few minutes at the foot of a crag, and then +Lawrence, who had been sitting rather slackly on a log, got up with a +shiver. + +"The air's keen," he said. "Can't we go back another way where we'll +get the sun?" + +One of the party said there was a lower and more open trail, and they +went down until they reached a narrow track that followed the edge of a +steep fall to the river. The hillside above made a sharp angle with +the pines that cut, in scattered cones of somber green, against the +long, glittering slope. Below, the ground dropped nearly sheer to the +green flood that roared among the ice. Although the trail was safe +enough, Lucy kept close to Lawrence and was glad to see Walters talking +to one of the others some distance behind. She felt jaded, for she had +not relaxed her watchfulness since the man arrived. By and by Lawrence +gave her a grateful smile. + +"You look tired; I expect I'm something of a responsibility. If you +like, I'll make an excuse for stopping in until Walters goes." + +"No," she said with an effort, "that would be cowardly and not good for +you. After all, I may be giving my imagination rein; but I wish he +hadn't come." + +"He won't be here long. Anyhow, we'll keep out of his way as much as +we can for the rest of the time." + +"That's a relief. Still, I expect you really think you are indulging +me." + +"I don't know what to think," Lawrence replied. "You're clever, and +Jake, who takes your view, is not a fool. But it doesn't look as if +Walters meant to do me much harm." + +"He can't, so long as you don't give him an opportunity." + +Lawrence's eyes twinkled. "And you'll take care that I don't? Well, +it's rather nice to be protected." + +Lucy blushed. "If you would take things seriously sometimes----" + +"If I did, you'd find me dull. Now I like you exactly as you are, +except that, in one way, I'd sooner you were not so anxious about me. +That's partly why I'm not so serious as you expect I'm afraid you'd get +worse if I played up to you." + +"Never mind me," said Lucy. "Only take care!" + +By and by the slope grew gentler, and tall forest crept up the hill +when they came to a ravine a torrent had worn out of the mountain side. +The ravine was narrow and for a short distance below the top the banks +shelved steeply; then a wall of rock fell straight to the water that +brawled in the bottom of the deep gap. The light was dim down there, +but one could see livid flashes of foam through a haze of spray. The +trail had been made by lumbermen or prospectors, who had provided a +bridge by chopping a big fir so that it fell across the chasm. +Somebody had made the passage easier by roughly squaring its upper +surface, though it is seldom a Canadian bushman takes this precaution +with his primitive bridge. There was no reason anybody with normal +nerve should hesitate to cross, but the party stopped. + +"You have gone farther than usual to-day, Featherstone, and perhaps +you'd sooner cut out the bridge," said one. "I think we could get +round the head of the canon without lengthening the distance much." + +Lawrence smiled. "My object is to keep on going farther than I did +before, and I don't see why the log should bother me. It's my legs +that are weak--not my head." + +"Very well," said the other. "I'll go first and Miss Chisholm will +come next." + +"Am I to be encouraged or shamed into crossing?" Lawrence asked with a +laugh. + +He let them go, and Lucy did not object. Lawrence was not well yet, +but she had seen him climb among the crevasses and knew his steadiness. +Then, although she did not know how much this counted, she was proud of +his courage and forgot that physical weakness sometimes affects one's +nerve. Walters could not harm him, because he was not near enough. + +When the first two had gone over, Lawrence walked out upon the log. +Lucy was not afraid, but she watched and remarked that he seemed +unusually careful. After a few paces, he moved slowly, and when near +the middle stopped. She saw him clench his hands as he tried to brace +himself. + +"Go on, Lawrence," she said, as quietly as she could. + +He moved another pace or two uncertainly, and then stopped again, and +Lucy struggled with her terror as she tried to think. If he were well, +it would not be difficult to turn and come back, or sit upon the log, +but either would be dangerous if his nerve had gone. She had failed to +rouse him and durst not try again. If he slipped or stumbled, he would +plunge into the canon. It was horrible to reflect that she had allowed +him to make the venture. Then, throwing off the numbing fear, she +sprang to her feet. + +"Stand quite still; I'm coming to help you," she said in a strained +voice and went towards the log. + +Next moment she was seized from behind, and Walters ran past. She +struggled fiercely, biting her lips as she stopped the scream that +might startle her lover, and heard the man who held her breathing hard. +But he held her firmly and she stopped struggling, with a paralyzing +horror that made her muscles limp. Still, she could see and think, and +the scene fixed itself upon her brain like a photograph; long +afterwards she could remember each minute detail. + +The log occupied the foreground of the picture, running boldly across +the gap in the pines, with a shadowy gulf beneath. Near the middle, +Lawrence stood slackly, with his back to her, and behind him Walters +walked across the trunk. His step was firm and agile, his figure +well-proportioned and athletic, and it was somehow obvious that he +relished the opportunity of showing his powers. Afterwards, she hated +him for his vanity. + +It was plain that little physical help could be given. All that was +possible was moral support; a firm, guiding grasp that would restore +the shaken man's confidence, and the comfort of feeling there was +somebody near who was not afraid. But a very slight push the wrong +way, or even an unsteadiness in the hand that should have guided, might +be fatal. Lawrence was at the mercy of a man who had plotted to +destroy him and could do so now without risk. Lucy could not warn him, +because if he were startled, he would fall. Waiting in an agony of +suspense, she saw Walters grasp his shoulder. + +"Steady, partner; we'll soon be across," he said in a quiet, reassuring +voice, and Lawrence's slack pose stiffened, as if he had gathered +confidence. + +Lucy thought he did not know who had spoken, but the horrible tension +did not slacken yet, though Lawrence began to move forward. Walters +came close behind, rather guiding than supporting him, and in a few +moments they stepped down on the other side. Then Lucy gasped and logs +and pines got blurred and indistinct. She conquered the faintness and +went resolutely towards the log. + +"Wait and let me help you," somebody said. + +"No," she answered in a strained voice; "I'm quite steady." + +She crossed the log without a tremor and running to where Lawrence sat +put her arm round him. Lawrence said nothing, but took and held her +hand. + + + + +XXIX + +FOSTER ARRIVES + +When Lucy looked up, the others had gathered round and Walters smiled +sympathetically. + +"Are you better?" he asked Lawrence. + +"Yes; we'll go on in a minute. I don't know what was the matter; felt +dizzy and couldn't keep my balance. Think I needed a rest." + +"The thing's obvious," Walters agreed. "After seeing you on the +glaciers, I reckon your nerve's all right, but you're not well yet and +we brought you up the last hill too fast. The exertion disturbed the +beating of your heart and a few drops too much blood sent to the brain +makes a big difference. That's what happened; it's our fault." + +Lucy was grateful for the explanation, and thought it correct, but she +noted with some concern that Lawrence did not show the embarrassment +she had expected, which indicated that he had not recovered yet. In +the meantime, Walters gave her a look of ironical amusement. She could +not resent this and it seemed ridiculous to doubt him, but she did. + +"Thank you; you were very quick and cool," she said with an effort. + +Walters tactfully bowed his acknowledgment, as if he did not want to +press his claim on her gratitude, and Lucy turned to one of the others. + +"Was it you who held me back?" she asked, and when the man nodded, +resumed: "Of course, you were right. I might have startled him and we +would both have fallen." + +"That's what I was afraid of. Anyhow, Mr. Walters deserves your thanks +most. He saw what was needed and did it smartly." + +Then Lawrence got up, with some color in his face, and gave Walters his +hand. "I expect I would have fallen if you hadn't come along," he said +and turned to the rest. "I feel I must apologize for frightening you. +My best excuse is that I wasn't as fit as I thought." + +They urged him to rest and one offered to run to the hotel for brandy, +but he declared he was able to go on, and they tactfully began to talk +about something else and after a few minutes let him drop behind. He +was grateful and went slowly, with his hand on Lucy's arm. Sometimes +he pressed it gently and she gave him a tender look, but said nothing. +She could not talk; her relief was too great. When they reached the +hotel Lawrence went to his room, and soon afterwards Lucy met Walters +on the veranda. + +"I hope Lawrence is not much the worse," he said. + +Lucy remembered the part she had taken and resolved to play it out. + +"I expect he will be as well as usual after a rest. You took a very +generous revenge." + +Walters laughed. "After all, I was only a little quicker than the rest +and really ran no risk. I was behind him and he couldn't get hold of +me. In fact, I don't know that I'd have had grit enough to stick to +him if he had slipped." + +He left her and Lucy could find no fault with his reply, which she +admitted was frank and modest. For all that, her distrust had not been +banished, and when, after a time, Lawrence came down, she said, "I +suppose you're now satisfied that it wasn't Walters' fault you were +left on the _couloir_?" + +"Aren't you?" Lawrence asked with some surprise. + +"No," said Lucy firmly. "I'm not quite satisfied. You see, there were +a number of accidents, all leading to one result. Coincidences of that +kind don't happen unless somebody arranges them." + +Lawrence laughed. "Then they're not coincidences. Do you still hold +Walters accountable for the accidents?" + +"If he was accountable, they wouldn't be accidents," Lucy rejoined with +some color in her face. + +"A fair retort! But let's be serious. I'm not sure I'd have fallen +off the log if I'd been left alone, but it's very possible. Walters' +help was useful, whether he saved my life or not, and you can't deny +that he meant to save it." + +"No; I think he meant to save you. Did you know who it was when he +touched you?" + +"I did. Remembering Jake's theory, I saw it was possible he had come +to push me off, but I knew he hadn't. That's why I gave him my hand +afterwards." + +"Ah!" said Lucy. "I was sorry when you did that, because I knew what +it meant" + +Lawrence looked at her deprecatingly. "I don't like you to be +prejudiced, dear, even on my account. I can do nothing that might +injure Walters now and can't treat him with suspicion; but he's going +soon and, if it's any comfort, I won't leave the hotel grounds for the +next day or two. Anyhow I've rather overdone things lately." + +"Thank you for the promise," Lucy said, and was glad when her mother +joined them, for she felt baffled and wanted to think. + +She hated Walters with a half-instinctive hatred that reflection showed +her was justified; but beyond the concession he had made Lawrence would +not be moved. On the surface, so to speak, he was logical and she was +not. She was sure Walters had plotted to leave him on the couloir, +although she admitted that he had meant to save his life when he turned +dizzy upon the trunk. It was possible that he had yielded to sudden +generous emotion, but she did not accept the explanation. The fellow +was cold-blooded and calculating; she thought he had deliberately let +his opportunity pass, because, after this, nobody would believe him +guilty if he found another. But he must not find an opportunity, and +it was a keen relief to know that Foster would soon arrive. She had +not told Lawrence yet; it might be better to let Foster make an excuse +for his visit. + +When it began to get dark, she stood near the glass front of the +veranda and glanced at her watch. She could see for some distance down +the valley and knew that the smoke of a locomotive would spread in a +dark cloud across the tops of the pines. The train was late, but there +was no smoke yet. It was a long climb from sea-level at Vancouver +Inlet and in winter the line was sometimes blocked. There was no +obvious ground for alarm, but somehow she was worse afraid of Walters +than before. + +The massed pines gradually faded to a formless blur on the cold +blue-gray slopes of snow. There was no sound from the valley by the +roar of the river, and by and by a servant turned on the lamps. Lucy +could now see nothing outside and shivered as she looked at her watch. +She hoped no accident had delayed the tram. + +In the meantime, Lawrence, who was sitting near her mother, had picked +up a book, but put it down when Walters came in, and Lucy felt a +curious tremor of repugnance as she glanced at him. It was a shrinking +she sometimes experienced at the sight of a noxious insect. Yet there +was nothing about Walters to excite aversion. He was rather a handsome +man, and stood in a careless pose, smiling at the group. + +"The trouble about a pleasant time is that it comes to an end, and I'll +have to pull out to-morrow," he said. "When are you going to give me +the photographs you promised, Lawrence?" + +"I'll get them now and you can choose which you like. They're in my +room." + +"I want one with Miss Stephen in it as well as yourself," Walters +replied. "It will be something to remind me of our climbs." + +"Send the boy for the packet," Lucy interposed. + +"I think the drawer's locked; anyhow I don't want the boy to upset my +things," Lawrence objected. + +"Then I'll go with you," said Walters. "It will save you taking the +packet back and you can get ready for dinner while you are upstairs." + +Lawrence got up. "Very well; we'll go now." + +"Take the elevator, even if you have to wait," Lucy said as they went +to the door. + +Lawrence had chosen a room at the top of the building because the view +was good and it got the sun early in the morning, but now and then +walked up the stairs to see how fast he was recovering his strength. +After a minute or two, Lucy heard the elevator start and its harsh +rumble jarred her nerves. The electric lifts they use in Canada seldom +run silently, and the elevator had not been working well. Lucy was +annoyed that the sound disturbed her, and imagined she had not +recovered from the shock she got during their walk. She was nervous +and admitted that she did not like Lawrence to be out of her sight when +Walters was with him. She tried to persuade herself that this was +foolish, but could not banish her uneasiness. Then Mrs. Stephen looked +up. + +"There's the train; I didn't hear it stop." + +Lucy listened. She had forgotten the train for the last few minutes, +and it seemed to be going fast. The sharp snorting of the mountain +engine and rhythmic clang of wheels seemed to indicate that its long +climb had not been interrupted. The Montreal express did not stop at +the flag station unless the conductor was warned. She felt daunted as +she realized that Foster might not have come, and she had not told her +mother she had telegraphed for him. + +A few minutes later she heard steps outside; then the door opened, and +she felt a thrill of satisfaction as Foster came in with Pete. He +looked grave and rather hot, as if he had been walking fast, but it was +strangely comforting to see him. Besides, she liked his big companion, +who waited with Scottish calm. + +Foster bowed to Mrs. Stephen and then turned to Lucy. + +"Is Lawrence all right?" + +"Yes. He overtired himself this morning, but is better now." + +Foster looked relieved. "Is Walters here?" + +"He goes to-morrow." + +"Ah!" said Foster, as if he thought this important. "I should have +arrived yesterday if your message had come earlier. I got it just +after the train started in the morning." + +Mrs. Stephen looked at her daughter, but Lucy offered no explanation. +Foster's abruptness disturbed her. He obviously wanted to understand +the situation, but seemed to think he had no time to lose. + +"I sent the telegram half an hour before the office closed and as the +agent goes early you ought to have got it in the evening," she said. + +"Then it must have been kept back. Where's Lawrence now?" + +"He went to his room with Walters about ten minutes since." + +Foster beckoned Pete. "Then I'll go straight up; I know the number." + +They went out and Lucy sat down, feeling disturbed but somewhat +comforted. It was plain that Foster shared her fears and knew more +than she did, but in another minute or two he would join his comrade, +and Lawrence would be safe when he was there. + +In the meantime, Walters lighted a cigarette Lawrence gave him in his +room and sat down to examine the photographs. There were a number of +views of the mountains and a group of figures occupied the foreground +of several. A guest at the hotel with some talent for photography had +taken the pictures, and after a time Walters picked out two in which +Lucy and Lawrence appeared. + +"I'll take these, if I'm not robbing you," he said and waited until +Lawrence put on a Tuxedo jacket, when he resumed: "Well, I suppose we +had better go down. Are you coming?" + +He went out and as Lawrence crossed the floor to turn off the light, +called back: "I forgot the pictures; they're on the bureau. The +elevator's coming up and I'll keep it when it's here." + +Lawrence told him to do so. The lift had stopped between the floors on +their ascent, and the electric light inside it had gone out, while the +boy said something about his not being able to run it much longer. The +photographs, however, were not on the bureau and Lawrence searched the +room before he found them on the bed. Then he turned off the light and +went into the passage, which was rather dark. The lamp at the shaft +was not burning, but he could see Walters beckoning at the gate. + +"He wants to get down before the motor stops," the latter said. + +Lawrence hurried along the passage, and when he reached the shaft +Walters put his hand on the folding ironwork. + +"Come along; his light's out," he said to Lawrence, and added, as if to +somebody in the lift: "Start her off! I'll shut the gate." + +Lawrence stepped forward and then clutched the ironwork as his advanced +foot went down into empty space. Instead of the floor of the lift, +there was a dark gap beneath him, and he knew he had come very near to +plunging down the shaft. He hung over it, with one foot on the edge +and his hand on an iron bar, and looked at the black hole with horror +as he braced himself for the effort to swing his body back. There was +some strain upon his right arm, because his right knee was bent and his +other leg dangled over the shaft. His hold on the ironwork had saved +him and he must use it to regain the passage. + +Next moment a hand fastened on his wrist and he thought Walters had +come to his help. But the fellow was stupid; he ought to have seized +his shoulder. Then the sweat ran down his face as he guessed the +truth. Walters had not come to help; he meant to throw him down the +shaft. + +He set his teeth and felt the veins on his forehead swell with the +effort he made. He was in horrible danger and must fight for his life. +Walters was trying to pull his hand off the bar, but he resolved that +if the fellow succeeded, he should go down the shaft with him. But +although his situation was desperate, he did not mean to fall. + +Then Walters' fingers slipped away, and something jarred Lawrence's +knuckles as he got a firmer hold. The brute had struck him with a +pistol butt and the pain was sharp, but he did not let go. Though his +muscles were badly strained and his brain struggled with numbing +horror, he could think. Walters could have made him loose his grasp +had he used his knife, but the thing must look like an accident and +there must be no cut to show. The fellow had set a cunning trap for +him, but he might escape yet. + +Then he thought he heard steps, but his hearing was dull, for there was +a sound like bells in his ears and the hand fastened on his wrist +again. He arched his back to ease the strain on his arm and wondered +vaguely how long he could hold on. Afterwards, he calculated that he +had hung over the shaft for about a minute. + +Suddenly his antagonist's grasp slackened and his hand was loose. +There were running steps; somebody seized his arm and pulled him +strongly back. As he staggered across the passage he heard a heavy +blow. Walters, reeling past, struck the wall and leaned against it +with blood on his white face. He put his hand into his pocket, but a +man sprang forward and grappled with him. + +They lurched away from the wall and fell down the stairs. Another man +ran down after them, and Lawrence, who felt very limp, followed +awkwardly. There were lights on the next landing and he saw the +struggling men strike the banisters and stop. One had his hand loose +and held a pistol; his tense, savage face was uppermost. The man who +had gone down after them stooped and struck him with his fist. The +struggle stopped, and Lawrence sat down on the steps and tried to pull +himself together. He knew now how his illness had weakened him. + +Then Foster came up the stairs, very hot and breathless, with his +jacket torn, and stopping beside Lawrence, forced a smile. + +"It's lucky I got here when I did," he said. "The brute yonder stopped +me coming yesterday." + +Foster did not remember his reply, but he got up and went down to where +Walters lay unconscious. As he reached the spot the hotel manager and +a waiter arrived. + +"What's the matter? Is he dead?" the manager asked. + +"I don't know," said Foster coolly. "It will save the police some +trouble if he is." + +"But I want to know what's happened," + +Foster indicated a pistol lying on the steps. "That's his; he tried to +use it. I'll tell you about the thing later. In the meantime, you can +take him to his room and telegraph for the police." He paused and +beckoned Pete. "Go with them and don't lose sight of him until I come. +He'll probably come round soon." + +"Weel," said Pete dryly, "I'm thinking he'll no' be verra sensible for +a while yet, but I'll see he doesna' get away." + +He and the waiter picked up Walters, and Foster turned to Lawrence. + +"Now I'd better wash and straighten myself up. Perhaps you can lend me +a jacket." + +Lawrence laughed, a rather strained laugh. "Certainly; come along. +You're a curious combination, partner. I've called you romantic, but +you're not a sentimentalist when you get into action." + + + + +XXX + +RUN DOWN + +Foster did not know what Lawrence told Lucy, because he was occupied +for some time in his room. His lip was cut, his face was bruised, and +there was a lump on his head where he had struck the steps. After he +had attended to the injuries and frowned at his reflection in the +glass, he rang the bell, and asking for some paper took out his +fountain pen. It was not easy to write, but there was something to be +done that had better not be put off. He knew now what the gang was +capable of, and meant to leave a record, in case an accident of the +kind to which his comrade had nearly fallen a victim happened to him. +Moreover, it might be a safeguard to let his antagonists know that they +could not destroy his evidence if they took his life. + +He related his adventures in Scotland, his pursuit of Daly, and his +surmises about the gang, and then going down, asked the hotel clerk to +witness his signature and put the document in the safe. After this, he +went to the veranda, where Lucy came to meet him with shining eyes. + +"Jake," she said with emotion, "I felt we would be safe as soon as you +arrived. If you knew how I listened for the train and longed for your +step! But the wretch has hurt you; your face is bruised and cut." +Foster felt embarrassed, but laughed. "My face will soon recover its +usual charm, and if it's any comfort, the other fellow looks, and no +doubt feels, much worse." Then he turned to Lawrence, who sat near. +"You have evidently been telling Miss Stephen a highly-colored tale." + +"Lucy!" she corrected him. "I'm not going to call you Mr. Foster. +You're our friend--mother's and mine---as well as Lawrence's." She +stopped and shuddered. "But you shall not make a joke of what you did! +What might have happened won't bear thinking of. If you hadn't come in +time!" + +Foster, seeing her emotion, glanced at Mrs. Stephen, begging her to +interfere, but her strained look indicated that her feelings harmonized +with the girl's. Then Lawrence interposed with a grin-- + +"Jake always does come in time--that's one of his virtues. He's the +kind of man who's there when he's wanted. I don't know how he does it, +because he's not really clever." + +"Lawrence," said Lucy severely, "sometimes you're not as humorous as +you think." + +"Then I hope I'm tactful, because you're making poor Jake feel horribly +awkward. I believe he thought you wanted to kiss him and was very +nearly running away." + +Lucy blushed and Lawrence resumed: "He can't deny it; Jake, you know +you would have run away! However, I knew what I was doing when I made +him my partner some time ago. Jake has a romantic imagination that now +and then leads him into trouble, but although it's perhaps as much luck +as genius, when he undertakes a thing he puts it over. For example, +there was the sawmill----" + +Lucy stopped him with a gesture. "We are not going to talk about the +sawmill. It was your--I mean our--troubles Jake plunged into, and +pluck that can't be daunted is better than genius. But you're an +English Borderer and therefore half a Scot; you hate to let people +guess your feelings." + +"Jake kens," said Lawrence, smiling. "Before very long you'll be a +Borderer, too." + +Lucy's eyes were very soft as she turned to Foster. "Then I must adopt +their customs. I think they have a motto, 'Dinna' forget.'" + +To Foster's relief, the hotel manager came in and looked at the two +ladies hesitatingly. Neither took the hint and Lucy said, rather +sharply, "Well?" + +"Mr. Walters has come round and demands to be let out of his room. +Your man's there, Mr. Foster, and won't let him move." + +"Pete's splendid!" said Lucy. "I haven't thanked him yet. Perhaps you +had better go, Lawrence, but take Jake." + +Foster beckoned the manager and when they were outside asked: "When do +you expect the police?" + +"Some time to-morrow." + +"Then we must watch the fellow closely until they come." + +They stopped at a room on the second floor, and the manager frowned +when he turned the handle of the door, which would not open. + +"Wha's there the noo?" a sharp voice demanded. + +Foster laughed as he answered, the door was opened, and they saw +Walters, who looked much the worse for the struggle, lying on a couch, +while Pete stood grimly on guard. Walters glanced at Foster. + +"You're something of a surprise," he said. "We didn't expect much from +you." + +"That's a mistake other people have made and regretted," Lawrence +remarked. + +"Well," said Walters, "I demand to be let out." + +Foster shook his head. "I think not. The room is comfortable, and you +won't be here long." + +"What are you going to do with me?" + +"Hand you to the police." + +"On what ground?" + +"Attempted murder, to begin with," said Foster dryly. + +Walters turned to the manager. "A man can't be arrested without a +warrant. I guess you understand you're making trouble for yourself by +permitting these fellows to lock me in." + +"I don't know if it's quite legal or not," Foster admitted, addressing +the manager, who looked irresolute. "Anyhow, you're not responsible, +because we're going to take the matter out of your hands. Besides, you +haven't much of a staff just now and couldn't interfere." + +"In a way, that's so," the manager doubtfully agreed. "I don't want a +disturbance in my hotel; I've had enough." + +"Very well," said Walters, seeing he could expect no help from him. +"But I'm not going to have this wooden-faced Scotchman in my room. The +fool won't let me move. If you don't take him away, I'll break the +furniture. I can do that, although I'm not able to throw the big brute +out." + +Foster walked to the window, which he opened. It was some distance +from the ground and there was nothing that would be a help in climbing +down. Besides, Walters did not look capable of trying to escape. + +"We'll take him away," he said, and beckoning Pete and the manager, +went out. He locked the door on the other side and resumed: "Send up a +comfortable chair, a blanket, and a packet of tobacco. If there's any +trouble, you can state that you acted on compulsion and we'll support +you, but I rather think you can seize and hold a criminal when you +catch him in the act. Stop here until I relieve you, Pete." + +Pete nodded and the others went to the dining-room. After dinner, +Foster took his turn on watch, but by and by Pete reappeared, holding +the page by the arm. He signed to Foster, who went down the passage to +meet him. + +"I thought I'd maybe better tak' a look roon the back o' the hoose and +found the laddie aneath the window. He had a bit paper in his hand." + +Foster told him to watch Walters' door, and frowned at the lad. + +"I reckon you'd sooner keep out of jail." + +"Sure," said the lad, with an effort at carelessness; "I'm not going to +get in." + +"Well," said Foster grimly, "you're taking steep chances just now. The +police will be here to-morrow and there'll be trouble if they know you +tried to help their prisoner escape. Where's the telegram he threw you +down?" + +"It wasn't a telegram." + +"A letter's just as bad. The wisest thing you can do is to give it me." + +The lad hesitated, but let him have the crumpled envelope. "I was to +give it one of the train hands when the next freight stops for water." + +Foster opened the envelope, which was addressed to Telford at the +mining town. The letter was written guardedly, but after studying it +with knitted brows he thought he understood its purport. + +"How much were you to get for sending this?" he asked. + +"Mr. Walters threw me three dollars. I allow I'd have to give +something to the brakesman." + +"After all, I don't see why you shouldn't deliver the thing," Foster +said thoughtfully. "That means you can keep the money, but as the +brakesman's not allowed to carry letters, he'll probably want a dollar. +Wait until I get a new envelope." + +The boy went off, looking relieved, and Foster returned to his chair at +Walters' door. On the whole, he thought he would hear something of the +gang on the morrow, and if his suspicions were correct, looked forward +to an interesting meeting. Telford had been asked for help, which he +would try to send. The west-bound freight had not passed yet, and if +it came soon, should reach the mining town early in the morning. +Foster lighted his pipe, wrapped the blanket round his legs, and opened +a book he had brought. + +Next day two policemen arrived in a light wagon and took Walters away. +Lawrence was compelled to go with them, and although but little +disturbance was made, Foster imagined all the occupants of the hotel +knew about the matter. He had ground for regretting this, and kept a +close watch on the page whose duties were light just then, which +enabled him to wander about the building and see what was going on. He +expected to hear something when the train from the coast arrived, but +took care to be about when the express from Montreal was due. He had a +suspicion that Daly had gone up the line. + +The west-bound train came first, and Foster, who had sent Pete to the +station, sat in the veranda, where he could see anybody who entered the +hotel. The train stopped and went on again, but nobody came up the +road, and after a time Pete returned. Three passengers had got down, +but they looked like bush ranchers and had taken the trail to a +settlement some distance off. Pete, however, did not know Daly, and +Foster was not satisfied. He thought the fellow might have bought a +cheap skin coat such as the bush ranchers wore. Going out, he walked +through the wood that grew close up to the back of the building. After +all, Daly might try to find out something from one of the servants +before coming to the front entrance. + +The sun had sunk behind the range and the light was dim among the +pines. The air was keen and a bitter wind that came down the valley in +gusts rustled the masses of heavy needles, while the roar of the river +throbbed among the stately trunks. This was in Foster's favor, because +he had to make his way between fallen branches and through thick +undergrowth, and wanted to do so without being heard. He was a good +hunter and bushman, and did not think there was much risk of his being +seen. + +For a time he heard nothing suspicious and began to feel keen +disappointment. He had hoped that Walters' message would bring Daly to +his rescue, but it looked as if it had not done so. Then, as he stood +nearly breast-high among dry brush and withered fern, he heard a faint +noise. Not far off, a narrow trail led through the trees to the back +of the hotel. Standing quite still, he searched the wood with narrowed +eyes. + +It was shadowy all around him, but where the trees grew farther apart +their tall straight trunks cut against the glimmer of the snow. The +noise had stopped, but he could see anybody who crossed the nearest +opening, and waited, tense and highly-strung. Then he heard steps +coming from the hotel, and an indistinct object emerged from the gloom. +It was a man, taking some care to move quietly. When he got nearer, +Foster, knowing there was dark brush behind him, thrust his arm into +the fern and made it rustle as a gust of wind swept the wood. + +The man, who wore an old skin coat, stopped and looked round, and +Foster saw his face. It was Daly, and he seemed uncertain if the wind +had made the noise or not. After standing motionless for a few +moments, he took out his watch, and then moved on again as softly as he +could. + +The meaning of this was plain. Daly had learned that Walters had been +taken away by the police and had concluded that Lawrence meant to +fight. As it was too late to interfere, he meant to make his escape. +Foster resolved to prevent this if he could, but Daly had the advantage +of an open trail, while he was entangled in the brush. He crept out +and pushed through the wood as fast and silently as possible, but when +looking for a way round a thicket caught his foot and fell among some +rotten branches with a crash. He got up, growling at the accident, for +there was no use in following the other after this, although he did not +feel beaten yet. Daly no doubt hoped to get away by the Montreal +express, but would hide in the bush until the last moment. + +Foster went back to the hotel for Pete, and leaving a note for +Lawrence, dressed for a journey and took the road to the station. On +reaching a bend, however, he plunged into the wood and made his way to +the line, beside which he and Pete crept in the gloom of the trees, and +only came into the open for a few yards near the agent's shack. Here +they sat down behind a big water tank and Foster felt satisfied. If +they had reached the station without being noticed, they would find +Daly when he got on board the train, and if he had seen them, they had +cut off his best chance of escape. + +It was nearly dark and very cold, but Foster was glad the train was +late. By and by he got up and lighted his pipe, though he was careful +how he held the match. If Daly was hiding near, he did not want the +fellow to see his face, but the latter would not expect anybody who +might be on his track to smoke. Strolling carelessly round to the +front of the shack, Foster opened the door and asked the agent: "Are +you going to stop the east-bound?" + +"I am," said the other. "Got a wire to hold her up." + +"Ah," said Foster. "I expect we can get tickets on board, but if you +don't mind, we'll wait in here. It's freezing pretty fierce." + +He imagined that Telford or another of the gang had sent the telegram, +and sat down when Pete came in. He heard the wind among the pines and +the humming of the telegraph wires, but for a time this was all. Then +a faint throbbing came up the valley and got louder until he could +distinguish the snorting of a locomotive. + +The snorting stopped, a bell began to toll, and with lights flashing +the cars rolled past the shack. Foster waited a moment or two, +standing at the window, and then as the conductor called "All aboard" +saw a man run along the line and jump on to the step of the end car. +Then, beckoning Pete, he dashed out and got on board as the train began +to move. + +It was with a thrill of triumph he sat down in a corner as the cars +gathered speed. They would not stop for some time and the game was in +his hands at last. The long chase was ended; he had run Daly down. + + + + +XXXI + +DALY SOLVES THE PUZZLE + +The train was speeding along the hillside when Foster took Pete with +him and walked through the rocking cars. As he crossed the platforms +between them he met an icy wind and saw the dark pines stream by. It +was obvious that the track was nearly level and the train running fast, +for dusky woods and snowy banks flung back a rapid snorting and a +confused roll of wheels. There were not many passengers and nobody +seemed to notice Foster, until as they entered a car near the end a man +raised a newspaper he was reading so that it hid his face. As they +left the car Foster thought he heard a rustle, as if the paper had been +lowered, but did not look round. The thing might have no meaning and +he did not want to hint that he was suspicious. + +He felt anxious but cool. Daly was the cleverer man and the game they +must play was intricate, but Foster thought he had the better cards. +The last car was empty except for two women, and leaving Pete there, he +went through to the smoking compartment at its end. It had only one +occupant, who looked up as he came in, and he calmly met Daly's gaze. +The fellow had his hand in his pocket and his face was rather hard, but +he did not show surprise or alarm. + +"Well," he said, "we have been looking for one another for a long time +and at last have met." + +Foster sat down opposite. "That's so. When we began, you were looking +for me, but since then things have, so to speak, been reversed. I've +followed you across England and much of Canada." + +"I've wondered what accounted for your boldness." + +"It looked as if you knew, but if you don't, I'm going to tell you," +Foster replied. "But I'd sooner you took your hand out of your pocket. +It would be dangerous to use a pistol, because my man's in the car. +Then I left a plain statement of all I know and surmise about you, with +instructions for it to be handed to the police if I don't come back." + +Daly removed his hand and took out a cigarette. "You're not such a +fool as some of my friends thought, I suspected this for some time." + +"We'll get to business," Foster rejoined. "I want to get it finished, +although I don't think we'll be disturbed." + +Daly gave him a keen glance, which Foster did not understand then, and +the latter resumed: "How did you find out enough about Featherstone to +enable you to blackmail him?" + +"I was secretary to the man he robbed; as a matter of fact, I stole one +or two of his private papers. I don't know that I meant to use them +then, but was afterwards in need of money and saw how it could be got. +The documents prove your partner's offense." + +"You began by extorting money, but your last object was to suppress the +evidence my partner could give about the cause of Fred Hulton's death." + +"Ah!" said Daly. "I wonder how much you or Featherstone know about +that. As there are no listeners, we can be frank." + +"Very well. You claim to have documents that give you some power over +Featherstone; I have others that give me power over you. Have you got +yours here?" + +Daly smiled. "I have not. They're kept where nobody but myself could +find them." + +"I see," said Foster. "Any money you could extort from Featherstone +was to be your private perquisite and not shared with the gang! Well, +I've brought my documents for you to examine. This is a traveler's +circular check for yourself, and this is an ordinary bank check for +another man. Taken alone, they don't prove very much, but I'll try to +show how they link up with other matters." + +He related how Carmen had given him the packet and his adventures in +Newcastle, and when he finished Daly nodded. + +"On the whole, you don't argue badly." + +"I expect a lawyer prosecuting for the Crown would argue it better, +particularly if I was ready to go into the witness-box. Then, of +course, there's Featherstone's evidence." + +For a moment Daly looked alarmed, but recovered his tranquillity +without much effort, and Foster saw he had to face his first serious +difficulty, though there was another. If Daly knew how little Lawrence +could really tell, it would be hard to deal with him. + +"Something depends on the importance of Featherstone's evidence." + +"Your accomplice thought it important, since he tried to throw him down +the elevator shaft," Foster rejoined. "Anyhow, Featherstone saw the +man who killed Fred Hulton." + +Daly's smile rather disturbed him. "Then it's strange he said nothing +about it at the inquiry, and when he was in the factory passage spoke +to the man he saw as if he was the night guard." + +"That's so. You probably know more about the methods of the police +than I do, but I understand they now and then keep something back, with +an object. Then Featherstone is not a fool. He was satisfied to +answer the questions he was asked. You mustn't take it for granted he +didn't know the man was a stranger." + +There was silence for some moments while Daly pondered this, although +Foster imagined he had carefully weighed the thing before. Then he +asked abruptly: "Did your partner think he saw me?" + +"No," said Foster, who resolved to tell the truth. + +Somewhat to his surprise, Daly made a sign of acquiescence. "Very +well! You are near the mark, and I'll tell you what happened. There's +not much risk in this, because no Judge would admit as evidence +something you declared you had been told. Besides, I'll own that it's +an unlikely tale. I was not at or near the factory that night, but I +had done some business with Fred Hulton. The lad was a gambler and I'd +lent him money; as a matter of fact, I never got it all back. However, +a man who now and then acted as my agent learned something about the +customs of the factory and went there the night he met Featherstone. +But he did not shoot Fred Hulton." + +"Then how was the lad killed?" + +"He shot himself; in a way, by accident." + +Foster looked at Daly with ironical surprise. "Your friends deal too +much in accidents! It was by an accident Walters left Featherstone on +the snow _couloir_." + +"It doesn't matter if you disbelieve me; this is what happened," Daly +rejoined. "My friend--we'll call him the man--went to the office late +in the evening and after some talk, covered Hulton with his pistol. +The lad had had some trouble about his debts, because the old man would +have fired him out of the business if he'd heard of them, and his nerve +wasn't good. He opened the safe when he was told and the man took the +bonds and went out of the office, leaving Hulton in his chair. We +don't know what the lad thought, but perhaps he saw he would be +suspected or was ashamed of not showing more grit. Anyhow, when the +man was on the stairs Hulton came up behind and told him to stop. He +had a pistol, but looked strained and nervous, and the other, who had +put his away, made a rush at him. Hulton slipped on the steps, his +pistol went off, and when he rolled to the bottom the other saw he was +dead." + +Foster was silent for a time. The story was, on the whole, plausible, +and although he did not see why Daly had told it him, he thought he +spoke the truth. So far he had been clearing the ground and had not +reached his object yet, but Daly showed no inclination to hurry him. +They were not likely to be disturbed, and although the rocking of the +car and throb of wheels indicated that the train was running fast, the +next station was some distance ahead. There was moonlight outside and +he saw towering rocks and masses of dark trees roll past. + +"Well," he remarked, "you have had a strange career. Leading a gang of +swindlers must have been a change from helping a philanthropist." + +Daly smiled rather grimly. "For a long time I served a strange man. +Philanthropy loses its charm when it becomes a business and results are +demanded from all the money given. Then my pay was arranged on the +surmise that to be engaged in such an occupation was reward enough, and +something must be allowed for the natural reaction. As a matter of +fact, I'm not surprised that Featherstone robbed my employer. He +deserved it; but I think we can let that go." + +Foster nodded and was silent. Perhaps it was because the excitement of +the chase was over, but he felt dull and tired. He had no sympathy +with Daly; the fellow was a rogue, but he had pluck and charm. In a +sense, it was unnatural that they should be talking quietly and almost +confidentially, but he did not feel the anger he had expected and his +antagonist was calm. Still, he was none the less dangerous and would +use any advantage that he could gain. + +"Now you had better tell me exactly what you want," Daly resumed. + +"I want you to leave my partner alone." + +"Would you be satisfied with my promise?" + +"No," said Foster; "not without some guarantee." + +"Then we must make a bargain. I'm able, if I think it worth while, to +give you what you ask. None of my confederates know anything about +Featherstone's history; this ought to be obvious if you claim that +Walters meant to kill him. Very well; I can, so to speak, bury an +unfortunate error of his so that it will never trouble him again. +That's much. What have you to offer?" + +Foster was now confronted with the difficulty he dreaded most, but he +tried to be firm. + +"I don't know that I need make an offer. I think I'm able to dictate +terms." + +"Are you?" Daly asked with an ironical smile. "Well, suppose you had +me arrested? My defense would be to discredit your partner's evidence. +My lawyer would prove that Featherstone was my enemy and had a motive +for revenge, by admitting that I had demanded money from him and would +tell the court on what grounds. You must see the danger in which you'd +put your friend." + +Foster saw it; indeed, he had seen it since he began the chase. He +must silence Daly, but the fellow was a criminal and he could not bring +himself to promise him immunity from the punishment he deserved. Yet +nothing less would satisfy the man. It looked as if he must deny his +duty as a citizen if he meant to save his friend. This was the +problem, and there was apparently no solution. Daly, who understood +it, watched him with dry amusement. + +"Well," resumed the latter, "I'll make a proposition. To begin with, +we'll exchange documents; the checks against the papers that compromise +Featherstone." + +"Which you haven't brought!" + +"Just so," said Daly. "If we both engage to make no use of the +documents we hold, they can be exchanged at some convenient time." + +"That means I must put the police off your track and meet you again." + +"Exactly; you have no choice. Besides, Featherstone must promise to +keep back anything he knows and you to say nothing about your meeting +with Graham." + +"I can't agree," Foster replied. + +"Then I'm afraid your partner must take the consequences." + +Foster pondered. Daly looked determined, and, knowing his friendship +for Lawrence, meant to trade on it, but Foster must try to persuade him +that he counted too much on this. The fellow played a clever game, but +it was nearly finished and Foster thought he still held a trump. + +"We had better ascertain to whom the consequences would be worse," he +said. "Featherstone risks a stained name, his relations' distress, and +the loss of friends. We'll admit it, but these things can be lived +down. You risk being tried for murder and certainly for a serious +robbery. There's evidence enough to convict you of a share in the +latter." + +"That is so," Daly agreed with unbroken calm. "I'm surprised you don't +see that it strengthens my demand. It's obvious that you must help me +to avoid the trial, or leave me to defend myself by doing as much +damage as possible. There's no other way." + +Foster thought there was, so to speak, a middle way between the two, +but it was hateful to indicate, and while he hesitated the car lurched +as the train ran out upon a bridge. The door swung open and Daly's +face got suddenly hard. A passenger from another part of the train had +entered the car and was looking into the smoking compartment. It was +the man Foster had seen at the hotel. Next moment Daly was on his feet +and springing across the narrow floor turned to Foster with a pistol in +his hand. + +"Blast you!" he said hoarsely. "You fixed this. I thought you were +straight!" + +Foster understood the situation. The man in the next car was Hulton's +detective or a police official who had known that Daly was on the +train, and feeling sure of him, had resolved to watch them both. He +had probably a companion, and Daly knew the game was up. The latter's +voice had warned Foster that he was desperate. Escape was impossible; +he meant to fight, and, suspecting Foster of treachery, would shoot him +first. This flashed upon Foster in a second, and as Daly, still facing +him, opened the vestibule door, he risked a shot and sprang forward. + +He heard the pistol explode and his face felt scorched, but he struck +savagely, and something rattled upon the floor. The pistol had dropped +and he was somewhat surprised to feel himself unhurt as he grappled +with Daly. They reeled through the door and fell against the rails of +the platform. Then he got a heavy blow and his grasp slackened. +Somebody ran through the smoking compartment, and while he tried to +collect his senses Daly stepped back to the gap in the rails. Foster +was dizzy, but he saw the man's dark figure against the moonlight. +There was a glimmer of snow in the gloom beneath, and a confused din; +the roar of wheels and a rattle from the bridge. Then Pete sprang +across the platform, passing in front of Foster, and when the latter +saw the gap again Daly had gone. + +Pete leaned against the back of the car, breathing hard and holding a +piece of torn silk. + +"I was aboot a second ower lang," he gasped. "He just stepped back and +left this in my han'." + +Foster, crossing the platform shakily, grasped the rail and looked +down. There were rocks and small trees immediately beneath him, but +farther back a level white belt indicated a frozen river covered by +thin snow. In the middle of this was a dark riband of water where the +stream had kept an open channel through the ice. The bridge was one of +the long, wooden trestles, flung across rivers and narrow valleys, that +are now being replaced by embankments and iron structures. Since the +frame, as usual, was open and just wide enough to carry the metals, +there was nothing to save anybody who fell off the cars from a plunge +to the bottom. Foster thought Daly knew this when he stepped off the +platform. Looking back along the curve of the bridge, he imagined that +the thing had happened when they were crossing the unfrozen part of the +stream. He shivered and then glanced round as a man who had followed +Pete closely took the object the latter held. + +"His necktie," he remarked. "If it had been stronger, we'd have had +him in handcuffs now." + +"Weel," said Pete dryly, "it's no certain I wouldna' ha' gone ower the +brig wi' him." + +There was a hoarseness in their voices that hinted at strain, but the +man, ordering Foster not to leave the car, hurried away, and soon +afterwards the train slackened speed. Then he came back with another +man, and telling Foster and Pete to follow him, got down upon the line. +Curious passengers were alighting and asking questions, but the leader +did not object when several followed the party. They had to walk some +distance, and when they reached the end of the trestle it was difficult +to get down the rocky bank. + +The bottom of the hollow was roughly level, but part was covered with +small, stunted trees, many of which had been uprooted and had fallen +across each other. In the open spaces, rocks and boulders rose out of +an inch or two of snow. It was plain that there was no chance of +Daly's alighting uninjured there. One of the men had brought a +train-hand's lantern, and they followed the curve of the trestle, which +rose, black and ominously high, against the moonlight. It was not very +dark among the trees and the beam of the lantern flickered across the +rocks and fallen trunks, but they found nothing, and presently came to +the ice, where the light was not needed. + +Nothing broke the smooth white surface, and the party stopped at the +edge of the water, which looked black and sullen as it rolled past, +streaked by lines of foam. There was a belt of ice on the other side, +but it was bare. + +"Must have gone plumb into the river," said one. "We'd see him if he'd +come down where it's frozen." + +"Unless he was able to crawl up the bank," somebody suggested. + +"I guess that's impossible," another replied, scraping the snow away +with his boot. "See here, it's hardly two inches deep; nothing to +soften the blow. Besides, anybody falling through the trestle would +strike some of the cross-braces or stringers." + +The man who had brought Foster touched his companion. "Nothing doing +here. We'll stop at Green Rock and you can raise a posse of ranchers +and look round to-morrow. I reckon you won't find anything." + +They went back and when the train started the man sat down opposite +Foster in the smoking compartment. + +"We'll probably want your evidence," he said. "What's your address?" + +Foster noted that he did not ask his name. "Perhaps the Hulton +Manufacturing Company, Gardner's Crossing, would be best. I'm going +there now." + +The man nodded meaningly. "That will satisfy me. On the whole, it's +lucky the fellow shot at you and Hulton told us how you stood. He +didn't miss by much; there's burnt powder sticking to your cheek." + + + + +XXXII + +FEATHERSTONE APOLOGIZES + +Three days afterwards, Foster entered the office of the Hulton Company, +where the head and treasurer of the firm waited him. It was late in +the evening when he arrived, but the private office was filled with the +softened throb of machinery and rumble of heavy wheels. Otherwise it +was very quiet and cut off by a long passage from the activity of the +mill. + +Hulton gave him his hand and indicated a chair. "You have got thinner +since you took your holiday and look fined down. Well, I reckon we all +feel older since that night last fall." + +"I do," said Foster, and added: "The mill seems to be running hard." + +"She's going full blast. We've had plans for extension standing over +until I could give my mind to them. I may be able to do so soon, and +expect to consult you and Featherstone. In the meantime, I got your +telegram and another that to some extent put me wise. But I want a +full account, beginning when you left." + +Foster told his story, and when he stopped, Hulton pondered for a +minute or two. He somehow looked more human than on Foster's last +visit; his stern vindictiveness was not so obvious, but Foster thought +he would demand full retribution. Then he said-- + +"You are keeping something back; I reckon you haven't taken these +chances on my account. There's something behind all this that concerns +you--or your partner--alone. Well, I guess that's not my business." + +He paused and resumed in a curt, businesslike manner: "Daly's tale is +plausible and may be true, but I have my doubts. Anyhow, I'm not going +to believe it because that doesn't suit my plans. We'll have Walters +tried for murder." + +"Although you admit he may be innocent!" exclaimed Foster. "It ought +to be enough to charge him with trying to kill Featherstone and +stealing your bonds. You have no evidence to convict him of the other +crime." + +Hulton smiled. "I don't care two bits if he's convicted or not. I +want to clear my boy's name and put you into the witness-box." + +"But you can't make me adapt my story to fit your charge, and the +defending lawyer would object to Daly's account as hearsay and not +evidence. The judge would rule it out." + +"I guess so," Hulton agreed. "For all that, it would have some effect, +and the judge couldn't rule it out before it was heard." He knitted +his brows and looked hard at Foster. "I'm going to prove that Fred was +robbed and was not the thief, and though I don't think Walters will be +convicted, he must take his chance. He was one of the gang that caused +my son's death, and when he tried to kill your partner knew what he was +up against." + +Foster thought this was frontier justice and urged another objection. + +"After all, the matter's in the hands of the police. You can't dictate +the line they ought to take." + +Percival, the treasurer, smiled, and Hulton answered with some dryness: +"That's true, in a way. But I have some influence, which will be used +for all it's worth. Anyhow, I've got to be consulted. If it hadn't +been for my agents, the police wouldn't have made much progress yet. +However, we'll let this go. It may interest you to know that Daly's +gone for good. Read him the night letter, Percival." + +It is usual in Canada to allow lengthy telegrams, called night letters, +to be sent at a very moderate charge when the lines are disengaged +after business hours, and the treasurer picked up a form. The message +related the careful search for Daly's body, which had not been found. +The snow for some distance on both sides of the river was undisturbed; +there was no sign that an injured man had crawled away, and if this +were not enough, no stranger had reached any of the scattered ranches +where he must have gone for food. Daly would not be found until the +ice broke up. + +"I expect you're glad the fellow can't be brought to trial," Hulton +remarked, looking hard at Foster. + +"I am," said Foster quietly. + +Hulton made a sign of understanding and there was faint amusement in +his eyes. + +"Well, you have a good partner. I like Featherstone; he's a live, +straight man, and if he had trouble in England, has made good here. +But he has his limits; I reckon you'll go further than he will." + +"No," said Foster. "I don't think you're right, but if you are, I'll +take my partner along with me, or stay behind with him." + +"What are you going to do now?" Percival asked. + +"Stop at the Crossing and see about starting the mill." + +Hulton nodded. "I guess that's the best thing. When you have got her +started, come and see what we want. I think that's all in the +meantime." + +Foster left them and began work next day. He wrote to Lawrence telling +him of his plans, but got no answer for a week, when a telegram arrived. + +"Come out if you can leave the mill. You're wanted here," it ran. + +Foster was puzzled, because he thought the summons would have come from +Lucy if Lawrence was ill. Yet the latter knew he was occupied and +ought not have sent for him unless he was needed. On the whole, he +felt annoyed. Lawrence, who was sometimes careless, should have told +him why he was required, and he could not conveniently leave the mill. + +Since he had found his partner, he had realized how wide, in a social +sense, was the difference between Alice Featherstone and a small +Canadian lumber dealer, and had, with characteristic determination, +resolved to bridge the gap. This meant bold planning and strenuous +effort, but he shrank from neither and meant his partner to help. +Lawrence, although resolute enough when things went against them, +sometimes got slack when they were going well, and Foster understood +that Lucy Stephen had money. For all that, if Lawrence was unwilling +to keep pace with him, he must be dragged. Foster frowned as he put +off matters that needed prompt attention until his return, and then +sent a telegram and caught the next west-bound train. + +When he got down at the flag station his annoyance returned. If there +was any ground for his being sent for, he ought to have been told, and +if there was not, he had been caused a loss of time that could have +been well employed. He resolved to tell Lawrence his views upon this +as he took the road to the hotel, but stopped with a beating heart when +he entered the veranda. + +Lawrence lounged negligently in a big chair and greeted him with a +smile, but his father, Mrs. Featherstone, and Alice sat close by, with +Mrs. Stephen and Lucy in the background. It cost Foster something of +an effort to preserve his calm, but he advanced to Mrs. Featherstone, +who gave him a look of quiet gratitude that repaid him for much. +Featherstone welcomed him heartily, but with a touch of embarrassment, +and then Foster thrilled as Alice gave him her hand. There was a +curious quiet confidence in her level glance, as if she meant that she +had known his promise would be kept. He did not remember what he said +to Mrs. Stephen and Lucy, but was grateful to Lawrence, who laughed. + +"I imagined you'd get something of a surprise, Jake. In fact, when the +train stopped I pictured you coming up the road as fast as you could, +divided between anxiety and a determination to tell me what you +thought. Before that, when I got your curt telegram, I told Alice I +could see you frowning as you filled up the form." + +"I didn't know Miss Featherstone was here," Foster replied awkwardly. + +"That's obvious," Lawrence said, chuckling. "Candor's one of your +virtues. But what about the rest of us?" + +Foster wished he had been more tactful and thought his comrade's +amusement might better have been restrained; but Lawrence resumed: "It +must have been annoying to leave the mill when you had much to do. The +curious thing is that when you set off from the Crossing with me you +declared you were tired of working for dollars." + +"Mr. Foster's tiredness didn't prevent him from working for his +friends," Alice interposed. + +"He must work, anyhow; that's the kind of man he is, and I don't +suppose he was much disappointed when he got a strenuous holiday." + +Then Featherstone turned to Foster. "I imagine we both dislike formal +speeches and Lawrence, knowing this, means to smooth over our meeting. +For all that, there's something to be said, and now, when the others +are here, is the proper time. When we got your telegram in England I +was overwhelmed by gratitude and regret. I saw, in fact, what a fool I +had been." He paused with a gleam of amusement in his embarrassment. +"Indeed, I'm not sure that the recognition of my folly wasn't the +stronger feeling. Now I'm half-ashamed to apologize for my ridiculous +suspicions and must ask you to forget all about them if you can." + +"They were very natural suspicions, sir. I couldn't logically blame +you and honestly don't think I did." + +"Well," said Featherstone, "it's some comfort to reflect that my wife +and daughter knew you better. I'm glad to think you're generous, +because there is no amend I can make commensurate with the service you +have done us." + +"In one sense, it was an excellent joke," Lawrence remarked. "While +Jake was lurking in the bogs and putting up with much unpleasantness on +my account, he was suspected of making away with me for the sake of an +old traveling bag, which was all he could have got. But don't you +think, sir, there was something characteristic about his telegram? I +mean the brief statement of his success." + +"My relief was so great that I did not criticize the wording, which I'm +not sure I remember," Featherstone replied. + +Lawrence glanced at his mother. "I expect you remember it." + +Mrs. Featherstone said nothing, but gave him a gentle, understanding +smile. + +Then Featherstone made Foster relate his last meeting with Daly on the +train. Foster had no wish to harrow the listeners' feelings, but his +memory was strangely vivid and he pictured the scene with unconscious +dramatic power. They saw it all, as he had seen it; the background of +flitting trees and glimmering snow, the struggle on the rocking +platform, while the icy wind screamed past the car, and the dark figure +filling, for a moment, the gap in the rails. Then they felt his thrill +of horror when the gap was empty and Pete held up the torn necktie. +Foster concluded with Pete's terse statement, "He just stepped back." + +"Into the dark!" said Alice softly and there was silence for the next +few moments. + +"He made us suffer," Featherstone remarked. "But he had pluck and +boldly took the best way. It is not for us to judge him now." + +Then Lawrence leaned forward with a flushed face. "In the beginning, I +made you suffer, and it might have been better if I had openly paid for +my fault. We'll let that go; but there's something yet to be said." +He stopped and looked at the others with badly suppressed emotion. +"That I have escaped a fate like Daly's is due to the love and trust +that was given me in spite of my offense, and my partner's unselfish +loyalty." + +Mrs. Featherstone looked at him with gentle approval and her husband +said, "Lawrence has taken a very proper line; but I think this matter +need not be spoken of again." + +It was a relief to talk about something else, and by and by the party +broke up. An hour or two later, Foster, who wanted to send his foreman +some instructions, met Lucy in a passage as he was going to the +writing-room. She stopped him and said, "I haven't thanked you, Jake; +you were careful not to give me an opportunity, but you have banished a +haunting fear I couldn't get rid of. You know what I mean--Lawrence +told me his story. Now he is safe." + +She stopped Foster, who began to murmur something. "This is not all I +want to say. I am not the only person who loves Lawrence and owes you +much. Don't be too modest; urge your claim." + +Foster would not pretend he did not understand and looked at her +steadily. "If I made a claim on such grounds, I should deserve to have +it refused." + +"Then choose better grounds, Jake; I think they can be found," Lucy +answered with a smile. "But show what you want. You can't expect to +have it offered, for you to pick up." + +She went away, leaving him in a thoughtful mood, though his heart beat. +Lucy was clever and would not have given him such a hint unless she +thought it was justified. Still, she might be mistaken and he feared +to risk too much; then there were other difficulties--he was not rich. +He went to the writing-room, knitting his brows, and stopped abruptly +when he found Alice there alone. She put aside a half-finished letter, +as if she did not want him to go away, and he advanced to the table and +stood looking down at her. + +"I did not send the telegram stating that I had found Lawrence." + +"No," she said, smiling, "I know you didn't. But why do you wish to +explain this?" + +Foster hesitated. "To begin with, it must have looked as if I wanted +to boast about keeping my promise and hint that you owed me something." + +"But you were glad you were able to keep your promise?" + +"I was," said Foster; "very glad, indeed." + +Alice gave him a quick glance that thrilled him strangely. "So +Lawrence said for you what you would have liked to say yourself? One +would imagine he knew your feelings." + +"Yes," said Foster steadily, "I didn't tell him, but I think he did +know." + +He stopped and Alice looked down at the table for a moment. Then she +looked up again and met his fixed gaze. + +"After all, you would have liked to have my gratitude?" + +There was something in her face that stirred his blood, and forgetting +his drawbacks he made a reckless plunge. + +"I wanted it tremendously, but it wasn't enough." + +"Not enough! Aren't you rather hard to satisfy?" she asked with a hint +of pride that deceived but did not stop him. + +"I'm afraid I'm very rash," he answered quietly. "You see, I wanted +your love; I wanted you. But I was afraid to ask." + +She looked at him in a way he did not understand, although her manner +enforced a curious restraint. + +"Now I wonder why?" + +"You're so beautiful! I durstn't hope you'd come down to my level. +I'd nothing to offer." + +"You have unselfishness, loyalty, and unflinching steadfastness. Are +these nothing?" + +Foster felt embarrassed, but the sense of restraint was stronger. +Alice had somehow imposed it and he must wait until she took it away. +He thought she wanted him to finish. + +"Then I knew my disadvantages. In many ways, Canada is a hard country, +and I'm poor." + +"Did you think that would count for very much? We are not rich at the +Garth." + +"I seemed to know that if by any chance you loved me, you would not +flinch. But there were other things; your upbringing and traditions. +I couldn't hope your parents would agree." + +Then Alice got up with a quiet grace he thought stately and stood +facing him. There was a strange new softness in her eyes that had yet +a hint of pride. + +"I don't think I am undutiful, but it is my right to choose my husband +for myself." She paused and his heart beat fast as he waited until she +resumed: "The evening I came to the orchard I had chosen you." + +He held out his hands with a low cry of triumph and she came to him. + +Next morning Foster saw Featherstone, who listened without surprise, +and then remarked: "It would perhaps have been better if you had come +to me before the matter went so far; but I can't lay much stress on +this. The times are changing." + +"I couldn't, sir. You see, until last night----" + +Featherstone nodded. "Yes, of course! But all that's done with. I +can't understand how the absurd notion came into my mind." + +"Things did look suspicious," said Foster, smiling. + +"Well," resumed Featherstone, "except for that ridiculous interval, I +liked you from the beginning, as did my wife. Besides, it would be +very hard for either of us to refuse you anything, and if Alice is +satisfied--But there's another consideration; I understand from +Lawrence that your business is not large, and although Miss Stephen +wants him to extend it, this won't augment your share. Well, you +understand why I must ask you to wait a year, until we see how you get +on." + +Foster, having succeeded better than he expected, thanked him and +agreed, and a few days later returned to the Crossing. The +Featherstones were coming to stay there for a time, and business +demanded his attention. He had long worked hard, but had now an object +that spurred him to almost savage activity. He resented the loss of +time when Walters was brought to trial and he had to attend the court. +The man was sentenced for robbery, and Foster's evidence, although +objected to by the defense, sufficed to prove that Fred Hulton had no +complicity in the theft. + +A few weeks later, when Featherstone and his family were at the +Crossing, Hulton sent for Foster. + +"I suppose you won't want to sell the mill?" he asked. + +"No," said Foster. "Business looks like booming and our chances are +pretty good." + +Hulton made a sign of agreement. "That's so. I reckon you could do a +bigger trade than you have the money to handle. However, I guess you +and Featherstone mean to continue the partnership?" + +"Yes," said Foster, quietly, "we stick together." + +"Although he is going to marry a lady who will invest some money in the +business? If your friendship stands that test, it must be pretty +sound. But I'd better state why I sent for you. Our trade is growing +fast, and there's a risk of our running short of half-worked material. +Well, if you won't sell your mill, you must enlarge it on a scale that +will enable you to keep us going, besides coping with your other +orders. I'm open to supply the capital, and have thought out a rough +proposition. Give him the paper, Percival." + +The treasurer did so, and Foster studied the terms with keen +satisfaction. + +"If there's anything you don't agree to, you can indicate it," Hulton +remarked. + +Foster hesitated. "It's a very fair and liberal offer. But I wouldn't +like to take it, so to speak, as a reward. You see, I didn't------" + +"Expect anything from me," Hulton suggested with dry amusement. "You +were acting for Featherstone, but were willing to do me a favor! +Anyhow, you can regard the thing as a plain business proposition. I +get a number of advantages, besides good interest." + +"Then I'll accept the main terms now, because I can promise for +Featherstone," Foster replied. "If any alteration's needed, we can +talk about it afterwards." + +He left the office with a thrill of satisfaction. With Hulton's help, +he and Lawrence could extend their operations and control a very +profitable trade. Featherstone had told him he must wait a year, but +by this stroke of luck he had made good when only a month had gone. +Still, it was characteristic that he finished his day's work before he +went to the hotel where the others were staying. + +Featherstone frankly expressed his pleasure at the news, and afterwards +Foster and Alice went out and stopped at the bridge on the outskirts of +the town. There was a moon in the clear sky and the night was calm. +The snow was crisp, but patches of uncovered wood showed where it had +melted off the bridge, and the southern slope of the river bank was +nearly bare. In the stream, fissured ice drifted down a wide, dark +channel; one felt that spring was coming. + +Behind the town, somber pines rolled back across the rocky wilderness; +in the foreground, dazzling arc-lamps flung their blue reflections on +the ice, and the lights of the Hulton factory ran far up in gleaming +rows. Civilization had reached the spot and stopped for a time. The +scene held harsh contrasts between man's noisy activities and the +silent austerity of the wilds. + +"It's a grim country," Foster said. "But one gets fond of it." + +Alice put her hand in his. "I think I shall love it; I'm not afraid, +Jake. There's something in the clear air and sunshine that makes one +brave. Then it's virgin country; waiting for you and the others to +make good use of." + +Foster nodded. "Something of a responsibility! Our efforts are crude +yet and the signs of our progress far from beautiful, but we'll do +better by and by. Well, I'm glad you're not daunted, though I don't +think I really feared that." He paused for a moment with a smile of +deep content. "To-day has banished my last anxiety; I'm a wonderfully +lucky man!" + +"Not altogether lucky, Jake, I think. Character counts for more than +fortune, and you really won success by the stubbornness you showed in +the Border bogs. It would have come sooner or later, if you hadn't met +Hulton." + +"I'm doubtful," Foster answered. "What I meant to win was you; but in +a way, that's wrong. If you hadn't given yourself to me, it would have +been impossible. Well, it has been a day of triumph, and now, if you +are willing, we needn't wait very long." + +Alice blushed and looked up with a shy smile. "When you want me, Jake, +I will be ready." + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14361 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b45c32 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14361 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14361) diff --git a/old/14361.txt b/old/14361.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..52c260f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14361.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10961 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Carmen's Messenger, by Harold Bindloss + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Carmen's Messenger + +Author: Harold Bindloss + +Release Date: December 15, 2004 [eBook #14361] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CARMEN'S MESSENGER*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +CARMEN'S MESSENGER + +by + +HAROLD BINDLOSS + +Author of _Johnstone of the Border_, _Prescott of Saskatchewan_, etc. + +With Frontispiece in Colors + +Grosset & Dunlap Publishers +New York + +1917 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. FEATHERSTONE CHANGES HIS PLANS + II. THE MILL-OWNER + III. FOSTER MAKES A PROMISE + IV. THE FIRST ADVENTURE + V. FEATHERSTONE'S PEOPLE + VI. HIS COMRADE'S STORY + VII. THE PACKET + VIII. AN OFFER OF HELP + IX. THE FALSE TRAIL + X. THE DROVE ROAD + XI. THE POACHERS + XII. A COMPLICATION + XIII. FOSTER RETURNS TO THE GARTH + XIV. FOSTER SEES A LIGHT + XV. THE GLOVE + XVI. A DIFFICULT PART + XVII. THE LETTERS + XVIII. SPADEADAM WASTE + XIX. ALICE'S CONFIDENCE + XX. THE RIGHT TRACK + XXI. DALY TAKES ALARM + XXII. CARMEN GETS A SHOCK + XXIII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + XXIV. LAWRENCE'S STORY + XXV. FOSTER SETS OFF AGAIN + XXVI. THE REAL-ESTATE AGENT + XXVII. THE MINE + XXVIII. THE LOG BRIDGE + XXIX. FOSTER ARRIVES + XXX. RUN DOWN + XXXI. DALY SOLVES THE PUZZLE + XXXII. FEATHERSTONE APOLOGIZES + + + + + +I + +FEATHERSTONE CHANGES HIS PLANS + +It was getting dark, and a keen wind blew across the ragged pines +beside the track, when Jake Foster walked up and down the station at +Gardner's Crossing in North Ontario. Winter was moving southwards fast +across the wilderness that rolled back to Hudson's Bay, silencing the +brawling rivers and calming the stormy lakes, but the frost had +scarcely touched the sheltered valley yet and the roar of a rapid +throbbed among the trees. The sky had the crystal clearness that is +often seen in northern Canada, but a long trail of smoke stretched +above the town, and the fumes of soft coal mingled with the aromatic +smell of the pines. Gardner's Crossing stood, an outpost of advancing +industry, on the edge of the lonely woods. + +The blue reflections of big arc-lamps quivered between the foam-flakes +on the river, a line of bright spots, stretching back along the bank, +marked new avenues of wooden houses, and, across the bridge, the tops +of tall buildings cut against the glow that shimmered about the town. +At one end rose the great block of the Hulton factory, which lost +something of its utilitarian ugliness at night. Its harsh, rectangular +outline faded into the background of forest, and the rows of glimmering +windows gave it a curious transparent look. It seemed to overflow with +radiance and filled the air with rumbling sound. + +In a large measure, Gardner's Crossing owed its rapid development to +the enterprise of the Hulton Manufacturing Company. Hulton was ready +to make anything out of lumber for which his salesmen found a demand; +but his firm grip on the flourishing business had recently relaxed, and +people wondered anxiously what would happen if he did not recover from +the blow that had struck him down. Fred Hulton, his only son, and +assistant treasurer to the Company, had been found in the factory one +morning with a bullet-hole in his head, and it was believed that he had +shot himself. His father gave his evidence at the inquiry with stern +self-control, but took to his bed afterwards and had not left it yet. +So far as the townsfolk knew, this was the first time he had shown any +weakness of body or mind. + +The train was late, but Foster enjoyed the pipe he lighted. It was ten +years since he landed at Montreal, a raw lad without friends or money, +and learned what hard work was in a lumber camp. Since then he had +prospered, and the strenuous life he led for the first few years had +not left much mark on him. Now he thought he had earned a holiday, and +all arrangements for his visit to England were made. Featherstone, his +partner, was going with him. Their sawmill, which was run by +water-power, had closed for the winter, when building material was not +wanted, and the development of a mineral claim they owned would be +stopped by the frost. They had planned to put in a steam engine at the +mill, but the Hulton Company had delayed a contract that would have +kept the saws running until the river thawed. + +Foster, however, did not regret this. Except on Sundays, he had seldom +had an hour's leisure for the last few years. Gardner's Crossing, +which was raw and new, had few amusements to offer its inhabitants; he +was young, and now he could relax his efforts, felt that he was getting +stale with monotonous toil. But he was a little anxious about +Featherstone, who had gone to see a doctor in Toronto. + +A whistle rang through the roar of the rapid and a fan-shaped beam of +light swung round a bend in the track. Then the locomotive bell began +to toll, and Foster walked past the cars as they rolled into the +station. He found Featherstone putting on a fur coat at a vestibule +door, and gave him a keen glance as he came down the steps. He thought +his comrade looked graver than usual. + +"Well," he said, "how did you get on?" + +"I'll tell you later. Let's get home, but stop at Cameron's drug store +for a minute." + +Foster took his bag and put it in a small American car. He drove +slowly across the bridge and up the main street of the town, because +there was some traffic and light wagons stood in front of the stores. +Then as he turned in towards the sidewalk, ready to pull up, he saw a +man stop and fix his eyes on the car. The fellow did not live at the +Crossing, but visited it now and then, and Foster had met him once when +he called at the sawmill. + +"Drive on," said Featherstone, touching his arm. + +Although he was somewhat surprised, Foster did as he was told, and when +they had passed a few blocks Featherstone resumed: "I can send down the +prescription to-morrow. That was Daly on the sidewalk and I didn't +want to meet him." + +A minute later Foster stopped to avoid a horse that was kicking and +plunging outside a livery stable while a crowd encouraged its driver +with ironical shouts. Looking round, he thought he saw Daly following +them, but a man ran to the horse's head and Foster seized the +opportunity of getting past. + +"What did the doctor tell you?" he asked. + +"He was rather disappointing," Featherstone replied, and turned up the +deep collar of his coat. + +Foster, who saw that his comrade did not want to talk, imagined that he +had got something of a shock. When they left the town, however, the +jolting of the car made questions difficult and he was forced to mind +his steering while the glare of the headlamps flickered across deep +holes and ruts. Few of the dirt roads leading to the new Canadian +cities are good, but the one they followed, though roughly graded, was +worse than usual and broke down into a wagon trail when it ran into +thick bush. For a time, the car lurched and labored like a ship at sea +up and down hillocks and through soft patches, and Foster durst not +lift his eyes until a cluster of lights twinkled among the trees. Then +with a sigh of relief he ran into the yard of a silent sawmill and they +were at home. + +Supper was waiting, and although Foster opened a letter he found upon +the table, neither of the men said anything of importance during the +meal. When it was over, Featherstone sat down in a big chair by the +stove, for the nights were getting cold. He was about thirty years of +age, strongly built, and dressed in city clothes, but his face was +pinched. For part of the summer, he and Foster had camped upon their +new mineral claim in the bush and worked hard to prove the vein. June, +as often happens in Canada, was a wet month, and although Featherstone +was used to hardship, he sickened with influenza, perhaps in +consequence of digging in heavy rain and sleeping in wet clothes. As +he was nothing of a valetudinarian he made light of the attack, but did +not get better as soon as he expected on his return, and went to see +the Toronto doctor, when Foster urged him. + +The latter lighted his pipe and looked about the room. It was warm and +well lighted, and the furniture, which was plain but good, had been +bought, piece by piece, to replace ruder articles they had made at the +mill. One or two handsome skins lay upon the uncovered floor, and the +walls were made of varnished cedar boards. A gun-rack occupied a +corner, and the books on a shelf indicated that their owners had some +literary taste, though there were works on mining and forestry. Above +the shelf, the huge head of a moose, shot on a prospecting Journey to +the North, hung between the smaller heads of bear and caribou. + +Foster, who had hitherto lived in tents and shacks, remembered his +misgivings when they built the house. Indeed, he had grumbled that it +might prove a dangerous locking up of capital that was needed for the +enlargement of the mill. Featherstone, however, insisted, and since +most of the money was his, Foster gave in; but they had prospered since +then. They were good friends, and had learned to allow for each +other's point of view during several years of strenuous toil and stern +economy. Still, Foster admitted that their success was not altogether +due to their own efforts, because once or twice, when they had to face +a financial crisis, the situation was saved by a check Featherstone got +from home. By and by the latter turned to his comrade. + +"Your letter was from Hulton, wasn't it? What does he want?" + +"He doesn't state, but asks us to call at the factory to-morrow +evening. That's all, but I heard in town that the doctor and nurse had +left; Cameron told me Hulton fired them both because they objected to +his getting up." + +"It's possible," Featherstone agreed. "Hulton's not the man to bother +about his health or etiquette when he wants to do a thing. Anyhow, as +he has been a pretty good friend of ours, we will have to go, but I +wouldn't have imagined he'd have been ready to talk about the tragedy +just yet." + +"You think that is what he wants to talk about?" + +Featherstone nodded. "We knew Fred Hulton better than anybody at the +Crossing, and at the inquiry I tried to indicate that his death was due +to an accident. I imagined that Hulton was grateful. It's true that I +don't see how the accident could have happened, but I don't believe +Fred shot himself. Though it was an open verdict, you and I and Hulton +are perhaps the only people who take this view." + +"We'll let it drop until to-morrow. What did you learn at Toronto?" + +"Perhaps the most important thing was that I'll have to give up my trip +to the Old Country." + +"Ah," said Foster, who waited, trying to hide his disappointment and +alarm, for he saw that his suspicions about his partner's health had +been correct. + +"The doctor didn't think it wise; said something about England's being +too damp, and objected to a winter voyage," Featherstone resumed. "It +looks as if you were better at calculating the profit on a lumber deal +than diagnosing illness, because while you doctored me for influenza, +it was pneumonia I had. However, I admit that you did your best and +you needn't feel anxious. It seems I'm not much the worse, though I'll +have to be careful for the next few months, which I'm to spend on the +Pacific slope, California for choice. It's a bit of a knock, but can't +be helped." + +Foster declared his sympathy, but Featherstone stopped him. "There's +another matter; that fellow Daly's here again. I expect you guessed +what he came for the last time?" + +"I did. The bank-book showed you drew a rather large sum." + +"No doubt you thought it significant that the check was payable to +myself?" + +Foster was silent for a moment or two. He trusted his comrade, but +suspected that there was something in his past history that he meant to +hide. For one thing, Featherstone never spoke about his life in the +Old Country, and Foster was surprised when he stated his intention of +spending a few months there. It looked as if Daly knew his secret and +had used his knowledge to blackmail him. + +"I'll go to California with you," he said. "One place is as good as +another for a holiday, and I'm really not keen on going home. I've no +near relations and have lost touch with my friends." + +"No," said Featherstone, with a grateful look. "I want you to go to +England and stay with my people. I haven't said much about them, but +you'll find they will do their best to make things pleasant. Anyhow, +it's time you knew that I left home in serious trouble and meant to +stop away until I thought the cause of it forgotten. Well, not long +ago, I heard that the man I'd injured was dead, but had sent me word +that as I had, no doubt, paid for my fault in this country, I'd nothing +more to fear. Then Daly got upon my track." + +Foster nodded sympathetically. "How much does he know?" + +"Enough to be dangerous, but I don't know how he learned it and don't +mean to keep on buying him off. Now I want you to go home and tell my +people what we're doing; if you can give them the impression that I've, +so to speak, made good in Canada, so much the better. This is not +entirely for my sake, but because it might be a relief to them. You +see, they've had to suffer something on my account and felt my +disgrace, but, although I deserved it, they wouldn't give me up." + +"Very well," said Foster, "I'll do as you wish." + +He knocked out and re-filled his pipe, as an excuse for saying nothing +more, because he was somewhat moved. He guessed that Featherstone had +not found it easy to take him into his confidence, and felt that he had +atoned for his errors in the past. Still, there was a point he was +doubtful about. His comrade had a well-bred air, and Foster imagined +that his people were rich and fastidious. + +"I'm not sure your relatives will enjoy my visit," he resumed after a +time. "My father and mother died when I was young, and I was sent to a +second-rate school and kept there by an uncle who wanted to get rid of +me. Then I'd a year or two in a merchant's office and cheap lodgings, +and when I'd had enough of both came out to Canada with about five +pounds. You know how I've lived here." + +Featherstone gave him an amused glance. "You needn't let that trouble +you. It's curious, but the bush seems to bring out the best that's in +a man. I can't see why getting wet and half frozen, working fourteen +hours a day, and often going without your dinner, should have a +refining influence, but it has. Besides, I'm inclined to think you +have learned more in the Northwest than they could have taught you at +an English university. Anyhow, you'll find my people aren't hard to +please." + +"When are you going to California?" Foster, who felt half embarrassed, +asked. + +"Let's fix Thursday next, and I'll start with you." + +"But I'm going east, and your way's by Vancouver." + +"Just so," said Featherstone dryly. "For all that, I think I'll start +east, and then get on to a west-bound train at a station down the line. +The folks at the Crossing know I'm going home, and I don't want to put +Daly on my track." He smoked in silence for a few moments, and then +added: "I wonder whether Austin helped the fellow to get after me?" + +Foster looked up with surprise, but admitted that his partner might be +right. Austin was a real-estate agent who now and then speculated in +lumber and mineral claims. He had some influence at the Crossing +where, however, he was more feared than liked, since he lent money and +bought up mortgages. On three or four occasions he had been a business +rival of Foster and Featherstone's, and the former thought he might not +have forgiven them for beating him. + +"It's possible," he said thoughtfully. "But you don't imagine Daly +told him what he knows about you?" + +"I should think it most unlikely," Featherstone rejoined. "Daly means +to keep all he can get for himself, but if he gave Austin a hint that +he could injure me, the fellow might be willing to help. He's pretty +often up against us; but we'll let that go. You're a friend of Carmen +Austin's, and as you'll meet her at the reunion, it might be better if +you didn't tell her I have changed my plans. Of course, I don't mean +to hint that she has anything to do with her father's schemes." + +Foster laughed. He liked Carmen Austin and was mildly flattered by the +favor she showed him, but thought he knew her well enough not to attach +much importance to this. Carmen was clever and ambitious, and would, +no doubt, choose a husband who had wealth and influence. Though very +young, she was the acknowledged leader of society at the Crossing. + +"You needn't be afraid of hurting my feelings," he said. "To some +extent I do enjoy Miss Austin's patronage, but I know my drawbacks and +don't cherish any foolish hopes. If I did, I believe she'd tactfully +nip them in the bud." + +"On the whole, I'm pleased to hear it," Featherstone replied. "Now, if +you don't mind, there's something I want to read." + + + + +II + +THE MILL-OWNER + +Big arc-lamps flared above the railroad track that crossed the yard of +the Hulton factory, but except for a yellow glimmer from a few upper +windows, the building rose in a huge dark oblong against the sky. The +sharp clanging of a locomotive bell jarred on the silence, for the mill +hands had gone home and the wheels that often hummed all night were +still. It seemed to Foster, who glanced at his watch as he picked his +way among the lines, that the shadow of the recent tragedy brooded over +the place. + +"I don't know that I'm imaginative; but I wouldn't like the +night-watchman's job just now," he remarked to Featherstone. "Hulton's +illness can't have spoiled his nerve, or he'd have asked us to meet him +at his house, in view of what he probably wants to talk about." + +"I suspect that Hulton's nerve is better than yours or mine, and +although I'm sorry for the old man. It was a surprise to me when he +broke down," Featherstone replied. "This is the first time I've been +in the mill since Fred was shot, and I'll own that I'd sooner have come +in daylight." + +They went round a row of loaded cars to the timekeeper's office, where +a man told them that Hulton was waiting and they were to go right up. +A dark passage, along which their footsteps echoed, led to a flight of +stairs, and they felt there was something oppressive in the gloom, but +a small light burned near the top of the building, and when they +reached a landing Featherstone touched his partner. It was at this +spot Fred Hulton had been found lying on the floor, with a fouled +pistol of a make he was known to practice with near his hand. Foster +shivered as he noted the cleanness of the boards. It indicated careful +scrubbing, and was somehow more daunting than a sign of what had +happened there. + +A short night of stairs led to the offices of the head of the firm, and +the treasurer, whose assistant Fred Hulton had been. They went on and +entered a small, plainly-furnished room, well lighted by electric +lamps, where Hulton sat at a writing-table and signed them to sit down. +His shoulders were bent, his clothes hung slackly on his powerful +frame, and Featherstone thought his hair had grown whiter since he saw +him last. He looked ill, but his face was hard and resolute, and when +he let his eyes rest on the young men his mouth was firmly set. +Hulton's business acumen and tenacity were known, and it was supposed +that the latter quality had helped him much in the earlier part of his +career. The other man, who sat close by, was the treasurer, Percival. + +"To begin with, I want to thank you for the way you gave your +evidence," Hulton said to Featherstone, who had been one of the last to +see Fred Hulton alive. + +"I don't know that thanks are needed," Featherstone replied. "I had +promised to tell the truth." + +"Just so. The truth, however, strikes different people differently, +and you gave the matter the most favorable look you could. We'll let +it go at that. I suppose you're still convinced my son was in his +usual health and spirits? Mr. Percival is in my confidence, and we can +talk without reserve." + +"Yes, sir; I never found him morbid, and he was cheerful when I saw him +late that night." + +"In fact, you were surprised when you heard what happened soon after +you left?" Hulton suggested in a quiet voice. + +"I was shocked. But, if I catch your meaning, I was puzzled +afterwards, and had better say I see no light yet." + +"Is this how you feel about it?" Hulton asked Foster. + +"It is," said Foster, noting the man's stern calm, and Hulton turned to +Percival. + +"That's my first point! These men knew my son." + +Then he looked at Featherstone. "Fred went with you now and then on +hunting and prospecting trips, and that probably led to a certain +intimacy. You say he was never morbid; did you ever find him anxious +or disturbed?" + +Featherstone pondered. Fred Hulton, who was younger, had spent a year +or two in Europe before he entered the factory. He had moreover told +Featherstone about some trouble he had got into there, but the latter +could not tell how much his father knew. + +"You can talk straight," Hulton resumed. "I guess I won't be shocked." + +"Very well. I did find him disturbed once or twice. Perhaps you knew +he had some difficulties in Paris." + +"I knew about the girl," Hulton answered grimly. "I found that out not +long since; she was a clever adventuress. But I don't know where Fred +got the money he sent her. Did you lend it him?" + +"I lent him some," Featherstone admitted, hesitatingly. "He told me +afterwards she had promised to make no further claim, and I understand +she kept her word." + +Hulton turned to the treasurer. "You will see Mr. Featherstone about +this to-morrow. I've cleared up another point; Fred was not being +urged to send more money." Then he asked Foster: "Do you know if he +had any other dangerous friends?" + +"There was Daly. They were friends, in a way, and I wouldn't trust the +fellow. Still, I don't know how far his influence went, and imagine +Fred hadn't much to do with him for some months. Besides, Daly wasn't +at the Crossing when----" + +Hulton said nothing for the next few moments and Foster mused. Fred +Hulton had been very likable, in spite of certain weaknesses, and he +thought it cost his father something to talk about him as he did. +Hulton, however, seldom showed what he felt and would, no doubt, take +the line he thought best with a stoic disregard of the pain it might +cause. He rested his elbow on the table, as if he were tired, and sat +very quiet with his chin on his hand, until he asked Featherstone: + +"Why did you lend Fred the money he sent the girl?" + +"For one thing, because he was my friend," Featherstone answered with a +flush. "Then I knew into what straits the need of money can drive a +young man. I got into trouble myself some years ago." + +Hulton nodded. "Thank you. You helped him out. You have no ground to +think he was embarrassed by the need of money on the night he died?" + +"I feel sure he was not. He kept me some time talking cheerfully about +a hunting trip we meant to make." + +"Well," said Hulton quietly, "you're going to be surprised now. I did +not give my evidence as frankly as you claim to have done, but kept +something back. Mr. Percival was away for two or three weeks, and Fred +was the only person besides myself who knew the combination that opens +the safe. On the morning after we found him dead I examined the safe. +A number of bonds and a wad of small bills for wages had gone. It was +significant that Percival was due back next day." + +Featherstone started, but his face was hot with scornful anger. + +"That had no significance! I'd as soon suspect myself or my partner of +stealing the bonds, but the safe's being open throws a new light upon +the thing. Somebody you haven't thought of yet knew or found out the +combination." + +"Then, in face of what you have heard, you do not believe my son fired +the shot that took his life?" + +"No, sir," said Featherstone, with quiet earnestness. "I never thought +it, and it is impossible to believe it now." + +"My partner's opinion's mine," Foster broke in. Hulton looked from one +to the other and a curious steely glitter came into his eyes. It +hinted at a pitiless, unchangeable purpose, and bracing himself with an +effort he clenched his fist. + +"Nor do I believe it! If necessary, I'll let my business and factory +go and spend the last dollar I've got to find the man who killed my +boy." + +Next moment he sank limply back in his chair, as if the strain and +vindictive emotion, reacting on his physical weakness, had overcome +him, and there was silence until he recovered. Foster felt it +something of a relief that the man's icy self-control had broken down. + +"Very well," Hulton resumed in a shaky voice. "I brought you here +because you knew my son and I wanted your support. Then I meant to +convince Percival, whose help I may need to clear the boy's good name. +We'll let that go and try to be practical." + +"Were the bonds negotiable?" Foster asked. "Could they be easily sold?" + +Percival, who was about fifty years of age and had a reserved manner, +answered: "Some were bearer bonds, and, if the thief acted quickly, +would be as good as cash. Most, however, were registered stock, and it +is probable that he would be afraid to sell them in Canada or America. +The transfers would require to be forged." + +"What about Europe?" + +"That is where the danger lies. If he had clever confederates, a large +part of the value of the bonds could be borrowed from a bank, or they +might be sold to unsuspecting buyers on a French or German bourse." + +"But this would depend on the publicity you gave their theft." + +"Exactly," Percival agreed with some dryness. "I have been trying to +make Mr. Hulton recognize it." + +Hulton's tense look softened and he smiled. "Percival seems to have +forgotten that I am a business man. At the inquiry I shirked my duty +by keeping something back, and now he expects me to brand my son's good +name. The money must go. In a sense, it is a trifling loss." + +"At last, you put me wise," said Percival. "But to prove that Fred was +innocent you must find the thief." + +"That's so. It must be done with skill and tact by the best New York +private investigation man that I can hire. The job's too delicate for +the regular police." + +Featherstone, who had been sitting thoughtfully silent, looked up. +"Perhaps it's lucky the wage clerk went into the treasurer's office +after I left, though I spoke to the watchman, Jordan, as I went out." + +"No," said Percival sharply. "It wasn't Jordan's week on night-guard." + +There was silence for a moment, and then Hulton asked: "Where did you +meet the man you thought was Jordan? Did he answer you?" + +"He was going along the ground-floor passage in front of me, and the +only light was in the pay-office at the end. He stood in the doorway +as I passed and I said, 'It's a cold night, Tom.' I'd gone a few yards +when he answered, 'It will be colder soon.'" + +"Then as you passed the door he must have seen your face, though you +could not see his," said Hulton, who turned to Percival. "Clark was on +night-guard and his name's not Tom. Where was he when Mr. Featherstone +left?" + +"In the lathe-room at the other end of the building. The punch in the +check-clock shows it," Percival replied. + +Hulton pondered, knitting his brows, before he said, "Since you thought +the man was Jordan, you wouldn't know him again." + +"No; he was about Jordan's height and build, but I only saw his figure. +It showed dark and rather indistinct against the light." + +"Well," said Hulton, "you see the importance of this. We have +something to go upon; a stranger was in the factory." Then he got up +with a look of keen relief in his worn face. "I thank you and your +partner; you have given me hope. Some day all who knew my boy will +believe what you believe. Now I have something to say to Percival, and +then he must help me home to bed." + +He shook hands with them and let them go. They left the factory in +silence, but as they crossed the yard Foster remarked: "I'm sorry for +Hulton. For all his quietness, he takes the thing very hard." + +"I imagine the fellow who shot Fred Hulton will need your pity most," +Featherstone replied. "The old man will run him down with the +determination and energy that helped him to build up his business. +Money with brains behind it is a power, but I wouldn't like Hulton on +my track if he hadn't a cent. There's something relentless about the +man." He paused and resumed: "Well, he has a clew. It's curious I +didn't think of mentioning before that I spoke to the watchman, but I +thought the fellow was Jordan. I wonder how the thief will get the +bonds across to Europe." + +"There would be some danger in carrying them; anyhow, he'd imagine so, +although it looks as if Hulton doesn't mean to tell the police much +just yet. Of course, there's the mail, but the thief might be afraid +to post the papers." + +Featherstone nodded. "I think it's in Hulton's favor that he'll be +satisfied with one of the private detective agencies to begin with, +while the man he's looking for will be on his guard against the police. +Besides, it's possible that the fellow won't take many precautions, +since there's a plausible explanation of Fred Hulton's death." + +"Do you think the man you passed saw you well enough to know you again?" + +"He may have done so." + +"Then if he imagined that you saw him, it would make a difference," +Foster said thoughtfully, "He'd reckon that you were the greatest +danger he had to guard against." + +Featherstone stopped and caught his comrade's arm as the yard +locomotive pushed some cars along the track they were about to cross, +and the harsh tolling of the bell made talking difficult. When the +cars had passed they let the matter drop and went back to the hotel +where they had left their automobile. + + + +III + +FOSTER MAKES A PROMISE + +There was been frost next evening and Foster drove to the Crossing +without his comrade, who thought it wiser to stay at home. The reunion +he was going to attend was held annually by one or two mutual-improvement +societies that combined to open their winter sessions. It had originally +begun with a lecture on art or philosophy, but had degenerated into a +supper and dance. Supper came early, because in Canada the meal is +generally served about six o'clock. + +The wooden hall was decorated with flags and cedar boughs, and well +filled with young men and women, besides a number of older citizens. The +floor and music were good, and Foster enjoyed two dances before he met +Carmen Austin. He had not sought her out, because she was surrounded by +others, and he knew that if she wanted to dance with him she would let +him know. It was generally wise to wait Carmen's pleasure. + +When he left his last partner he stood in a quiet nook, looking about the +hall. The girls were pretty and tastefully dressed, though generally +paler than the young Englishwomen he remembered. The men were athletic, +and their well-cut clothes, which fitted somewhat tightly, showed their +finely developed but rather lean figures. They had a virile, decided +look, and an ease of manner that indicated perfect self-confidence. +Indeed, some were marked by an air of smartness that was half aggressive. +A large number were employed at the Hulton factory, but there were +brown-faced farmers and miners from the bush, as well as storekeepers +from the town. + +On the whole, their dress, manners and conversation were American, and +Foster was sometimes puzzled by their inconsistency. He liked these +people and got on well with them, but had soon discovered that in order +to do so he must abandon his English habits and idiosyncrasies. His +neighbors often showed a certain half-hostile contempt for the customs of +the Old Country, and he admitted that had he been less acquainted with +their character, it would have been easy to imagine that Gardner's +Crossing was situated in Michigan instead of Ontario. Yet they had +rejected the Reciprocity Treaty on patriotic grounds, and in a recent +crisis had demonstrated their passionate approval of Britain's policy. +He had no doubt that if the need came they would offer the mother country +the best they had with generous enthusiasm, and nobody knew better that +their best was very good. + +By and by Carmen dismissed the young men around her and summoned him with +a graceful motion of her fan. He crossed the floor, and when he stopped +close by with a bow that was humorously respectful she gave him a cool, +approving glance. Foster was twenty-eight, but looked younger. Though +he had known hardship, his face was smooth, and when unoccupied he had a +good-humored and somewhat languid air. He was tall and rather thin, but +athletic toil had toughened and strengthened him, and he had frank gray +eyes that generally smiled. A glove that looked significantly slack +covered his left hand, which had been maimed by a circular saw when he +worked in his mill. + +Carmen was a blonde, but with none of the softness that often +characterizes this type of beauty. Her features were sharply cut, her +well-proportioned figure was firmly lined, and the lack of color in her +face was made up for by the keen sparkle in her eyes. As a rule, Carmen +Austin's wishes were carried out. She knew how to command, and rival +beauties who now and then ventured to oppose her soon found that her +power was unshakable. + +"You haven't thought it worth while to ask for a dance yet," she +remarked, and Foster could not tell if she was offended or not. + +"No," he replied, smiling, "I was afraid of getting a disappointment, +since I didn't know your plans, but only made a few engagements in case +you sent for me. One finds it best to wait your orders." + +Carmen studied him thoughtfully. "You generally take the proper line; +sometimes I think you're cleverer than you look. Anyway, one isn't +forced to explain things to you. Explaining what one wants is always +annoying." + +"Exactly. My business is to guess what you would like and carry it out +as far as I can. When I'm right this saves you some trouble and gives me +keen satisfaction. It makes me think I am intelligent." + +"Our boys are a pretty good sample, but they don't talk like that. I +suppose you learned it in the Old Country. You know, you're very +English, in some respects." + +"Well," said Foster, "that is really not my fault. I was born English, +but I'll admit that I've found it a drawback since I came to Canada." + +Carmen indicated the chair next her. "You may sit down if you like. You +start for the Old Country on Thursday, don't you?" + +"Thank you; yes," said Foster. "One likes to be in the fashion, and it's +quite the proper thing to make the trip when work's finished for the +winter. You find miners saving their wages to buy a ticket, and the +Manitoba men sail across by dozens after a good harvest. As they often +maintain that the Old Country's a back number, one wonders why they go." + +"After all, I suppose they were born there." + +"That doesn't seem to count. As a rule, there's nobody more Canadian +first of all than the man who's only a Canadian by adoption." + +"Then why do you want to go?" + +"I can't tell you. I had a hard life in England and, on the whole, was +glad to get away. Perhaps it's a homing instinct, like the pigeon's, and +perhaps it's sentiment. We came out because nobody wanted us and have +made ourselves pretty comfortable. America's our model and we have no +use for English patronage, but every now and then the pull comes and we +long to go back, though we wouldn't like to stop there. It's illogical, +but if there was trouble in Europe and the Old Country needed help, we'd +all go across." + +"In a mild way, the journey's something of an adventure," Carmen +suggested. "Doesn't that appeal to a man?" + +"It does," Foster agreed. "One might imagine that there was enough +adventure here, but it really isn't so. The lone trail has a mineral +claim at the end of it; you look forward to the elevator company's +receipt when you break the new furrow. Hardship gets as monotonous as +comfort; you want something fresh, a job, in fact, that you don't +undertake for money. Of course, if you look at it economically, this is +foolish." + +"I like you better as a sentimentalist than a philosopher," Carmen +answered. "It's the former one goes to when one wants things done. +However, if you would like a dance----" + +She danced well and Foster knew there were men in the hall who envied +him. He, moreover, imagined that Carmen knew it would be remarked that +she had banished her other attendants and shown him special favor. This, +of course, would not trouble her, because Carmen generally did what she +pleased, but he felt inclined to wonder about her object. He knew her +well enough to think she had an object. When the music stopped she said, +"Now you may take me in to supper." + +Supper was served in an ante-room, but, although this was contrary to +local custom, the guests came in when they liked and were provided with +small, separate tables. Instead of Foster's leading, Carmen guided him +to a quiet nook, partly screened by cedar branches, where they could see +without being seen. He thought it significant that a spot with such +advantages should be unoccupied, but this did not cause him much +surprise. Things generally happened as Carmen wanted, and it was a +privilege to sup with the prettiest and cleverest girl in the hall. + +"You are going to stay at Featherstone's home in England, aren't you?" +she asked by and by. + +"Yes," said Foster, who wondered how she knew. "Since I've spent ten +years on the plains and in the bush, it will be a rather embarrassing +change. You see, I'm better used to bachelor shacks and logging camps +than English country houses." + +Carmen firmly brought him back to the subject. "Do you know much about +your partner's relatives? It's obvious that he belongs to a good family. +However, you'll have him with you." + +Foster smiled. He did not mean to tell her that Featherstone was not +going with him. + +"I know nothing about them. In fact, my ignorance of the habits of a +good family rather weighs on my mind." + +Carmen gave him a level, critical glance. "They won't be able to find +much fault with you, and if they did, you wouldn't guess it, so it +wouldn't matter. But that is not what I meant. You have been +Featherstone's partner for some time, and it's curious that he has told +you nothing about his home." + +"He's reserved," said Foster, who looked up as Daly came into the room +with a laughing girl, at whom Carmen glanced somewhat coldly. "Do you +know what that man is doing here?" + +"I don't, but as he's agent for an engineering company, I dare say he's +looking for orders. Hulton's are buying new plant." + +"But he's often in your father's office and at your house, and Mr. Austin +doesn't buy machines." + +"Then perhaps he's speculating in building lots; we deal in them," Carmen +rejoined with a laugh. "I sometimes meet my father's friends, but don't +ask them about their business." + +She went on with her supper, and Daly and his companion sat down not far +off. The fellow was well dressed and on the whole a handsome man, though +there was nothing about him to excite marked attention. He looked a +little older than Foster, who studied him thoughtfully. Daly had sold +one or two machines in the neighborhood of the Crossing, but the business +he did there hardly seemed to warrant his visit. It was possible that he +made it an excuse for watching Featherstone, but Foster fancied that +Carmen knew more about him than she confessed. + +"Perhaps you will visit Scotland before you come back," she said by and +by. + +"It's possible. Featherstone's relations live near the Border." + +"Then I dare say you will take a packet for me to Edinburgh." + +"Of course," said Foster, who felt some surprise, and thought Carmen saw +this although she looked at him gratefully. + +"I know you'll take care of it, and you don't ask questions; but you +wonder why I want to send it by you. Well, the girls are inquisitive in +our post office, and I'm sending the packet to a man. Besides, I +wouldn't like it damaged, and things sometimes get broken in the mail." + +Foster said this often happened and hinted that the man was fortunate, +but Carmen laughed. + +"Oh," she said, "he's as old as my father; we have friends in the Old +Country. But there really is a little secret about the matter, and I +don't want anybody but you to see the packet." + +"Very well; but I believe the Customs searchers, who examine your +baggage, are sometimes officious. They might think I was trying to +smuggle and make me open the thing." + +"No; they wouldn't suspect you. You have such a careless and innocent +look. For all that, your friends know you can be trusted." + +"Thank you! I suppose I'm lucky, because one meets people whose looks are +against them. Anyhow, I'll take the packet, and if necessary, protect it +with my life." + +"It won't be necessary," Carmen answered, smiling. Although she talked +about other matters for some minutes before she told him to take her back +to the hall, he imagined this was tactful politeness and she did not want +to dismiss him too soon after obtaining her object. + +He danced one or two dances with other partners and enjoyed them keenly. +His work was finished for the winter, and after the strenuous toil of the +last ten years, it was a new and exhilarating experience to feel at +liberty. Then there was no reason he should deny himself the pleasure he +expected to derive from his trip. Their small mill was only adapted for +the supply of certain kinds of lumber, for which there was now not much +demand, and they had not enough money to remodel it, while business would +not get brisk again until the spring. + +By and by he went to the smoking-room and lighting a cigarette, thought +over what Carmen had said to him. At first she had seemed anxious to +find out something about Featherstone, but he was not surprised by this. +Carmen liked to know as much as possible about everybody she met, and +used her knowledge cleverly when it was to her advantage. The other +matter was more puzzling and he wondered why she wanted to send a packet +secretly to a man as old as her father. It might, of course, be a +caprice, because girls were fond of mystery, but, as a rule, Carmen had a +practical object for what she did. She had stated that they had friends +in England, and this might mean that she had a lover. Perhaps she had +exaggerated his age, and in any case, Foster thought it would not be a +great drawback, if the man were rich. Carmen was rather ambitious than +romantic. + +Her plans, however, were not his business, and he felt no jealousy. He +liked Carmen and had some respect for her abilities, but thought he would +sooner not marry her, even if she were willing, which was most +improbable. Since he had promised to take the packet, he would do so and +say nothing about the matter. + +He left the hall early, and driving home found his partner sitting by the +stove. + +"Was Daly at the reunion?" Featherstone asked. + +Foster said he was there, and Featherstone resumed thoughtfully: "It's +curious he hasn't come to the mill yet, but if he doesn't turn up before +Thursday, he'll be too late. I'll be ready to start with you by the +afternoon train, and as there's no use in spoiling a good plan for a few +dollars, I'll buy a ticket and check my baggage to Ottawa. Then I'll get +off at Streeton Creek, where I won't have long to wait if the west-bound +train's on time. You can express my things on from Ottawa. The Montreal +express stops about an hour." + +"That ought to throw Daly off the track," Foster agreed, and they talked +about something else. + + + + +IV + +THE FIRST ADVENTURE + +It was about ten o'clock at night and the Montreal express sped through +the lonely forest of North Ontario. The train was light, for there +were few passengers on board, and the road was by no means good, but in +spite of the jolting Foster enjoyed his cigarette in a corner of the +smoking compartment at the end of a car. A colored porter had told him +his berth in the sleeper was ready, Featherstone had left the train, +and most of the passengers were already in bed, but Foster did not want +to follow them just yet. For a time, he had done with business, and +was on his way to England. He relished the unusual sense of freedom. + +A half-moon shone down upon the rugged wilderness, and he could see the +black pines rush past. The cars lurched and he heard the great +locomotive snort on the inclines. Now and then there was a roar as +they sped across a bridge, and water glimmered among the rocks below; +afterwards the roar sank into a steady clatter and a soothing throb of +wheels. The car was warm, and Foster, who had given the porter his +overcoat, was lighting another cigarette when a man came in and sat +down opposite. He looked hard at Foster, who quietly returned his +gaze. The man was about his own height but some years older, and his +expression was disturbed. + +Foster felt interested. He had faced danger in the northern +wilderness, where he had risked starvation and traveled on frozen +rivers when the ice was breaking up. Besides, he had once or twice +been involved in savage fights about disputed mining claims, and knew +how men looked when they bore a heavy strain. He thought the stranger +was afraid but was not a coward. + +"You're going to Ottawa, aren't you? I heard you talking to your +friend," said the man. + +"I'm going to Montreal, but don't see what that has to do with you." + +The other made a sign of impatience. "Well, I dare say you can be +trusted, and I've got to take a risk." + +"It is a risk to trust a man you don't know," Foster rejoined. "But +how can I help?" + +"I want you to put on my coat and cap, and stay here, reading the +_Witness_, for about ten minutes." + +"Holding the newspaper in front of my face, I suppose? Well, it's +rather an unusual request and I must know a little more. If there's a +detective on your trail and you expect me to hold his attention while +you hide or try to jump off the train, I must refuse." + +The stranger smiled. "I've wired for the police to meet me at Ottawa; +the trouble is that I mayn't get there. Time won't allow of a long +explanation, but there are men on board who'd stop at nothing to +prevent my arrival. In fact, to some extent, I'm putting my life in +your hands." + +Foster looked at him, surprised. He had not expected an adventure of +this kind on a Canadian Pacific train, but did not think the other was +exaggerating. + +"How many men?" he asked. + +"I've seen one, but know there are more." + +"Then why not tell the conductor and have the train searched?" + +"It wouldn't work. I might find one enemy, but I'd warn the others +that I was on my guard, and to let them think I suspect no danger is +the best chance I have. The conductor's making his way up the train, +and I'm going to see if he can get me into the express car. It's the +only safe place; the clerks are armed. Well, my business is lawful and +in the public interest, and I take it you're a patriotic citizen." + +Foster saw that he must decide quickly. Somehow he did not doubt the +man, who kept his eyes on the door as if he expected somebody to come +in. Moreover, he expected to be met by the police at Ottawa. + +"It looks as if I'd run your risk when I put on your coat," he said. + +"The porter's sweeping up the car, and if you keep the door open, +you'll be safe while he's about. Besides, if I can't get into the +express car, I'll come back. Give me ten minutes, and then, if I don't +turn up and you feel uneasy, take off the coat and put the newspaper +down." + +"Very well," said Foster. "Perhaps you had better take my hat." + +The stranger gave him his heavy fur coat. "I'll ask you for it at +Ottawa. You're going to Montreal. What's your name?" + +Foster told him and he resumed: "Then, if you don't see me, stop at the +_Windsor_, where I can telegraph, a day or two. You'll be repaid for +any expense or inconvenience. Well, I'm going. Thanks!" + +"Good luck!" said Foster, who sat down and opened the _Witness_. + +Now he was alone, he began to wonder if he had been imposed upon. The +man, however, did not look like a criminal; though alarmed, he had an +air of quiet authority. In a sense, it seemed absurd that he should +think himself in danger. Violence was not common in Canada, where the +carrying of weapons was prohibited, and Foster had never heard of any +sensational crime on the big expresses. Still he thought the man would +not be afraid without good cause. He did not look like a detective, +and Foster felt nearly sure he had not got on board at the Crossing. +This seemed to indicate that he could not have been investigating the +tragedy there, particularly since Hulton had only recovered from the +shock a few days ago. Then Hulton had stated that he meant to send for +a New York man, and not that he had done so. The fellow, however, +might be a confidential agent of the Government's, who had perhaps +found out something about certain mysterious attempts to damage public +property. + +By and by Foster smiled. Carmen had given him a valuable packet to +take care of, and now this stranger had asked his help. Both had +stated their confidence in him, but it was getting obvious that to look +as if one could be trusted had its drawbacks. He did not feel much +disturbed as he read the newspaper, which reported the arrest of two +strangers with dynamite cartridges near the locks of a big canal, but +presently put it down and glanced at his watch. The ten minutes had +nearly gone and he looked out of the window. A frozen lake shimmered +at the edge of the track and then, with a harsh uproar, the train +plunged into the shadow of a cliff. On the summit stunted pines cut +against the sky, and Foster knew they ran from the Manitoban border to +the Ottawa across as rugged and stony a wilderness as there is in the +Dominion. The stations were small and sometimes only places where the +locomotives stopped for water. He could not remember when they had +passed the last. + +Looking at his watch again, he saw that he had kept his promise, but +decided to give the man a few more minutes, and then go to his berth, +unless he could learn something about him from the conductor. The +berth was in the Pullman farther along the train, and after walking +through the empty car he opened the door of a vestibule and stepped out +on the platform. It was unprotected except for a brass rail at the +side, which was divided in the middle where the steps went down. The +floor jolted and a bitter wind that whistled between the vestibules +buffeted him. Although he wore the fur coat, he shivered, and as he +stepped across the gap between the platforms the door behind him +rattled. + +Turning sharply round, he saw a man's dark figure in the shadow of the +curving roof, and felt his heart beat. Then the door he had been +making for swung back, and he knew he had another antagonist to deal +with. He carried no pistol and there was not much chance of a shout +for help being heard, but he did not wait to be attacked, and with a +sudden spring threw himself upon the man in front. He felt his +knuckles jar and heard the fellow's head crash against the vestibule, +but the other seized him as he turned. Foster surmised that they +feared the report of a pistol but might use the knife, and determined +to throw the fellow down the steps. If this proved impossible, he must +try to jump off the train. + +So far as he could remember, the savage struggle only lasted a few +moments. His assailant had apparently not room enough to draw a weapon +and Foster kept his grip on him, so that he could not free his right +arm, although this left his own face exposed. He was breathless and +exhausted when he fell against the rail, but with a tense effort he +lifted the fellow off his feet. Since there seemed to be no other way, +they must both fall off the train. He lost his balance and his foot +slipping from the top step threw him backward. Then he missed the rail +he clutched at and felt a heavy shock. + +When his senses came back he found that he was lying on hard-frozen +ground. There were dark firs about, but, a little farther on, the +rails glistened in the moonlight, and he dully realized that he had +fallen off the car. A faint snorting and a rumble that echoed across +the forest showed that the train was going on. Foster lay still and +listened until the sound died away. It looked as if nobody but the men +who had attacked him knew there had been a struggle and he was left +behind. Then he cautiously raised his head and leaning on his elbow +looked about. It was a relief to find that he could do so, but he must +see if his antagonist had fallen off with him, because if the fellow +was not badly hurt he might renew the attack. + +There was nothing in the shadow beside the line, the gap where the +rails ran into the moonlight was empty, and everything was still, +except for the sigh of the cold breeze among the firs. For all that, +Foster hesitated about getting up. The train was probably going at +forty miles an hour, the ground was hard, and he might find that some +bones were broken when he tried to move. The shock had perhaps dulled +his senses and prevented his feeling much pain. It was, however, +bitterly cold, and making an effort he got shakily upon his feet. To +his surprise, he discovered that he was not much the worse although he +felt sore and dizzy, and he sat down on a fallen branch to think what +he should do. + +The next station was probably only marked by an agent's office and a +water-tank. Besides, his antagonists might get down there and come +back to look for him, in which case he would be at their mercy if they +met. It was a long way to the station they had passed, but he thought +the safest plan would be to make for it. This meant a walk of some +hours, with nothing to eat on the way, but a train from Winnipeg would +stop early in the morning, and the others would not expect him to +resume his journey east. If they had found out their mistake, they +would take it for granted that he was a confederate of the man they +followed and most likely calculate on his trying to reach the new +Canadian Northern line. Foster felt angry with the fellow who had +lured him into the adventure and resolved to extricate himself from it +as soon as possible. + +Getting up, he started west along the track, and after a time found +himself embarrassed by the fur coat. It was heavy and too warm, but he +would need it when he stopped. Then he wore thin city boots, and the +track, as usual, was roughly ballasted with coarse gravel. The stones +rolled about under his feet, and the ties were irregularly spaced, so +that he could not step from one to another except by an awkward stride. +He went on, however, and by and by began to wonder where he could get a +drink, for the struggle or the shock had made him thirsty. + +The big coat proved troublesome to carry when he took it off. After a +time his feet got sore and he tried to walk in the shallow drain beside +the line, but this was filled with ice, on which he slipped. He had +traveled by rougher trails and carried heavy loads, but that was some +years ago and he wore different boots and fastened on his pack by +proper straps. Moreover, one got soft when leading a business life. + +By and by he heard the roar of water and pushing on faster came to a +foaming creek that plunged down a stony ravine. A bridge crossed the +gorge, and leaving the track he clambered down the rocky bank. Where +the spray had fallen there were patches of ice, but Foster felt that he +must get a drink. When he was half-way down his foot slipped and he +slid the rest of the distance, bringing up with a shock at the edge of +the water, where he struck a projecting stone. He felt shaken, but got +a drink, and when he began to climb back found that he had wrenched his +knee. Some movements were not painful, but when his weight came upon +the joint it hurt. He must get up, for all that, and reached the top, +where he sat down with his lips firmly set, and after putting on the +coat felt in the pocket for a cigarette. + +The case he took out was not his, and he remembered that he was wearing +another man's coat. The cigarettes were of Turkish tobacco, which is +not much used in Canada, and he thought the quality remarkably good. +This seemed to imply that their owner had a cultivated taste, and +Foster began to wonder whether he was after all not a business man +running away from his creditors, but rejected the theory. It was +strange that although the cigarettes were expensive the case was of the +kind sold in Western stores for fifty cents, but Foster presently gave +up speculating about the man. + +The moon was getting low and ragged pine branches cut against the +light. The track was wrapped in shadow that was only a little less +dense than the gloom of the surrounding bush. It was not really cold +for North Ontario, but the fur coat was hardly enough protection to +make a bed in the open air comfortable. Foster had slept in the +Athabasca forests when the thermometer marked forty degrees below zero, +but he then wore different clothes and had been able to make a roaring +fire and build a snow-bank between him and the wind. Moreover, he was +still liable to be overtaken by the men on the train. + +Getting up, he found his knee sore and stiff, but limped on for an hour +or two after the moon sank. He seemed to be stumbling along the bottom +of a dark trench, for the firs shut him in like a wall and there was +only an elusive glimmer of light above their serrated tops. He did not +expect to find a house until he reached the station, for much of North +Ontario is a wilderness where the trees are too small for milling and +agriculture is impossible among the rocks. To make things worse, he +felt hungry. The train had stopped at about seven o'clock at a +desolate station where the passengers were given a few minutes to get +supper, but Foster's portion was too hot for him to eat. He tried to +encourage himself by remembering that he had once marched three hundred +miles across the snow with a badly frozen foot, but this did not make +his present exertion easier. + +As he got hungry he got angry. He had gone away to enjoy himself, and +this was how his holiday had begun! The Government agent, if that was +what he was, ought not to have dragged a confiding stranger into his +difficulties. He was now safe in the express car and chuckling over +the troubles he had left his substitute to face. Then Foster tried to +remember if he had left any papers with his address in his overcoat and +decided that he had not done so. His wallet was now in his jacket +pocket. This was satisfactory, because he meant to have nothing more +to do with the matter. Tying the fur coat round his waist to take some +of the weight off his shoulders, he trudged on as briskly as he could +through the gloom. + + + + +V + +FEATHERSTONE'S PEOPLE + +After walking for some time, Foster heard a rumble in the distance +behind him and climbed the rocky bank of the single-line track. There +was not much room between the bank and rails, and he was glad of an +excuse for sitting down. Taking out the stranger's case, he lighted +another of the Turkish cigarettes. They were the only benefit he was +likely to derive from the adventure, and he felt some satisfaction in +making use of them. + +In the meantime, the rumble grew into a roar that rolled across the +forest with a rhythmic beat, and a ray of light pierced the gloom up +the track. It was very bright and he knew it was thrown by a +locomotive headlamp. A west-bound freight train was coming and he must +wait until it passed. Freight trains were common objects, but as a +rule when Foster saw one approaching he stopped to watch. The great +size and power of the locomotive appealed to his imagination, and he +liked to think of the reckless courage of the men who drove the steel +road through eight hundred miles of rugged wilderness to Port Arthur, +and then on again through rocks and muskegs to the Western prairie. It +was a daring feat, when one remembered the obstacles and that there was +no traffic to be developed on the way. + +The beam of light became a cone of dazzling radiance; the rocks +throbbed, and the gnarled pines shook as the roar swelled into a +tremendous harmony of many different notes. Then there was sudden +darkness as the locomotive leaped past, and huge box-cars rushed, +lurching and rocking, out of the thick, black smoke. Flying ballast +crashed against the rocks, and though the ground was frozen hard a hail +of small particles rattled among the trees. Then, as the tail-lights +on the caboose sped by, a deep hoot of the whistle came back from about +a quarter of a mile off, and soon afterwards the fading glimmer +vanished round a curve. It seemed to be going slower, and the rumble +died away suddenly. Foster thought there was a side-track ahead, where +the freight would wait until a train going in the other direction +crossed the switches. If he could reach the spot in time, he might +save himself a long walk. + +His knee hurt as he stumbled over the gravel at the best pace he could +make, but that did not matter much, A few minutes' sharp pain could be +borne, and he set his lips as he ran, while the perspiration dripped +from him and his breath got short. This was the consequence of leading +a soft and, in a sense, luxurious life, he thought, but when he tried +to walk next day he understood the reason better. Still, he did not +mean to be left behind in the frozen bush, and as he reached the curve +was relieved to see lights flicker about the track. When he stopped a +man flashed a lantern into his face. + +"Looks as if you'd made good time, but the track's pretty rough for +breaking records on," he remarked. + +"That's so," Foster answered breathlessly. "I wanted to get here +before you pulled out, because I'm going on with you." + +"No, sir; it's clean against the rules. You can't get a free ride now +on a C.P. freight" + +"The rules apply to hobos. I've got a first-class ticket to Montreal." + +"Then why in thunder are you running back to Fort William?" + +"I'd have been satisfied to make the next station. You see, I fell off +the train." + +Another man, who wore big gloves and grimy over-alls, had come up, and +laughed when he heard Foster's explanation. + +"You sure look pretty lively after falling off the Montreal express. +Guess you must have done that kind of thing before? But our bosses are +getting blamed particular about these free rides." + +Foster opened his wallet and took out a strip of paper, folded in +sections, but it was not by accident he held two or three dollar bills +against it. + +"There's my ticket. I bought it at the agent's office, but I expect +you know what would have happened if I'd got it on board. Anyway, +you've heard of the drummer who beat his passage from Calgary to +Toronto at the cost of a box of cigars." + +The brakesmen grinned, because the hint was plain. It is said on +Western railroads that when a conductor collects a fare he throws the +money at the car-roof and accounts to the company for as much as sticks +there. + +"Well," said the first man, "I guess we'll take our chances and you can +get into the caboose. You'll find blankets, and a bunk where you can +lie down if you take off your boots. We'll dump you somewheres handy +for catching the next east-bound." + +Foster found the caboose comfortably warm. There was a stove in the +middle and two or three bunks were fixed to the walls. In a few +minutes the train they waited for went roaring past, and when the +freight started one of the men gave him some supper. Then he got into +a bunk and went to sleep. + +He caught the next express going east, and on reaching Ottawa, where he +had some time to wait, half expected the man he had helped would come, +or send somebody, to meet him. Although he wore the fur coat and stood +in a conspicuous place, he was not accosted, and presently bought a +newspaper. It threw no light upon the matter, and for a time he walked +up and down, considering if he would go to the police. This was +perhaps his duty, but it looked as if the owner of the coat had not +been molested. After all, the fellow might be an absconding debtor, +and if not it was obvious that he had some reason for keeping his +secret. Foster decided to let him do so, and went back to the train. + +When he arrived at Montreal he went to the _Windsor_ as he had been +told, but there was no letter or telegram waiting and none came during +the day or two he stayed. On the evening before he sailed he was +sitting in the large entrance hall, which is a feature of American and +Canadian hotels, when he thought a man some distance off looked hard at +him over his newspaper. Foster only caught a momentary glimpse of his +face, because he held up the paper as if to get a better light and +people were moving about between them; but he thought the man was Daly, +and after a few moments carelessly crossed the floor. + +A man sat at the spot he had marked and the chairs on both sides were +unoccupied, but when Foster sat down in the nearest he saw the fellow +was a stranger. This puzzled him, since he did not think he had been +mistaken. It was, however, possible that Daly had been there, but had +moved off quietly when Foster's view was obstructed. If so, he must +have had an object for hiding, and Foster waited some minutes before he +went to the office and examined the guestbook. Daly's name did not +appear, and he found that nobody from the West had signed the book +recently. + +"I wanted to see if a man I know is staying here," he told the clerk. + +"That's all right," said the other. "Quite a number of people have +been looking for friends to-day." + +Foster described Daly as well as he could, and asked if he had examined +the book. + +"No," said the clerk. "Nobody just like that had the register while +I've been about; but now I think of it, a man who might meet the bill +stood by while another looked at the last page." Then he indicated a +figure near the revolving door, "There! that's who he was with!" + +As the man pushed the door round Foster saw his face, and knew him for +the stranger who had occupied the chair in which he had expected to +find Daly. He thanked the clerk and went back thoughtfully to his +place, because it looked as if Daly had been there and the other had +helped him to steal away. If this surmise was correct, they might be +trying to follow Featherstone; but he was, fortunately, out of their +reach, and Foster decided that he must not exaggerate the importance of +the matter. After all, Daly might have come to Montreal on business, +and the rotunda of a Canadian hotel is something of a public resort. +Still, he felt disturbed and presently gave the clerk the fur coat, +telling him to deliver it when asked for. He felt it a relief to get +rid of the thing. + +Next day he sailed on an Empress liner, and on the evening after he +reached England left the train at a lonely station in the North. It +was not yet dark, and for a moment or two he stood on the platform +looking about. There had been rain, and the air had a damp freshness +that was unusual in Canada. In the east and north the sky was covered +with leaden cloud, against which rounded hilltops were faintly marked. +Rugged moors rolled in long slopes towards the west, where the horizon +was flushed with vivid saffron and delicate green. Up the middle of +the foreground ran a deep valley, with blue shadow in its bottom and +touches of orange light on its heathy sides. There were few trees, +although a line of black firs ran boldly to the crest of a neighboring +rise, and stone dykes were more common than the ragged hedges. Foster +saw no plowed land, and nothing except heather seemed to grow on the +peaty soil, which looked black as jet where the railway cutting pierced +it. Indeed, he thought the landscape as savage and desolate as any he +had seen in Canada, but as he did not like tame country this had a +certain charm. + +While he looked about a man came up. He was elderly and dressed with +extreme neatness in old-fashioned dark clothes, but he had the +unmistakable look of a gentleman's servant. Though there was a small +car in the road, he was obviously not a professional chauffeur. + +"You'll be Mr. Foster, sir, for the Garth?" he said. + +Foster said he was and the man resumed: "Mr. Featherstone sent the car +and his apologies. He had to attend the court, being a magistrate, and +hoped you would excuse his not coming." + +Then he picked up Foster's portmanteau and called a porter, who was +moving some clanging milk cans, to bring his bag. + +"Never mind; I'll take it," Foster told him. + +"As you like, sir, but it's perhaps not quite usual in this country," +the other answered in a deprecatory tone. + +"I suppose I ought to have remembered that," Foster agreed smiling. + +They crossed the platform, and while they waited for the bag the man +said respectfully, "Might I ask if Mr. Lawrence was better when you +left, sir? It was a disappointment to us when we heard he could not +come home." + +Foster liked the fellow. He was very formal, but seemed to include +himself in his master's family. + +"Yes," he said. "In fact, I expect he'll be quite well in a month or +two. I suppose you were at the Garth before my partner left?" + +"I've served Mr. Featherstone for thirty years, sir, and led Mr. +Lawrence's first pony and cleaned his first gun. It wasn't my regular +duty, sir, but he was the only son and I looked after him. If I may +say so, we were much upset when we heard that he was ill." + +Then the bag was brought, and as the car ran across the moor Foster +noted the smooth, hard surface of the wet road. The country was wild +and desolate, but they had no roads like this in Canada, except perhaps +in one or two of the larger cities. Indeed, in Western towns he knew, +it was something of an adventure to cross the street during the spring +thaw. The light got red and angry as they dipped into the valley; the +firs on the hillcrest stood out black and sharp, and then melted into +the gray background. A river pool shone with a ruby gleam that +suddenly went out, and the dim water vanished into the shadow, brawling +among the stones. + +There was smooth pasture in the valley, broken by dark squares of +turnip fields and pale stubble; but here and there the heath appeared +again and wild cotton showed faintly white above the black peat-soil. +By and by a cross, standing by itself on the lonely hillside, caught +Foster's eye, and he asked his companion about it. + +"The Count's Cross, sir; a courtesy title they held in the next dale. +He was killed in a raid on a tower down the water, before the +Featherstones came." + +"But did they bury him up there?" + +"No, sir; they were all buried at night by the water of Langrigg, but +when they were carrying him home in the mist by the hill road the Scots +from the tower overtook them. The Count's men were wounded and their +horses foundered, but the Scots let them go when they found that he was +dead. About 1300, sir. Somebody put up the cross to commemorate it." + +"They seem to have been a chivalrous lot," Foster remarked. "I wonder +if that kind of thing would happen nowadays!" + +"I'm afraid one couldn't expect it, sir," the old fellow answered and +Foster smiled. + +The cross faded into the hillside; it got dark and the valley narrowed. +Trees grew in sheltered spots; the faint, delicate tracery of birch +branches breaking the solid, black ranks of the firs. The road wound +along the river, which roared, half seen, in the gloom. Now and then +they ran through water, and presently the glare of the headlamps bored +through breast-high mist. There was a smell of wet soil and rotting +leaves. It was very different from the tangled pine bush of Ontario +and the stark bareness of the plains, but it was somehow familiar and +Foster felt that he was at home. + +By and by the moon came out, and the mist got thinner as they ran into +an opening where the side of the glen fell back. Lights twinkled at +the foot of a hill, and as they sped on the irregular outline of a +house showed against a background of trees. It glimmered, long and +low, in the moonlight, and then Foster lost it as they ran through a +gate into the darkness of a belt of firs. A minute or two later, the +car slowed and stopped after passing round a bend. + +A wide door stood hospitably open, and a figure upon the steps cut +against the light. There were two more figures inside the hall, and as +he got down Foster heard voices that sounded strangely pleasant and +refined. Then a man whom he could not see well shook hands with him +and took him in, and he stopped, half dazzled by the brightness. + +The hall was large and a fire burned on a deep hearth. There were oil +lamps on tall pillars, and in the background a broad staircase ran up +to a gallery in the gloom. Foster, however, had not much time to look +about, for as soon as he had given up his hat and coat his host led him +towards the fire and two ladies came up. He knew one was his partner's +mother and the other his sister, but although they were like Lawrence +he remarked a difference that was puzzling until he understood its +origin. Mrs. Featherstone had an unmistakable stamp of dignity, but +her face was gentle and her look very friendly; her daughter was tall +and Foster thought remarkably graceful, with an air of pride and +reserve, although this vanished when she gave him a frank welcoming +smile. Featherstone, who was older than his wife, had short, gray +hair, and a lined, brown face, but looked strong and carried himself +well. + +Foster, who liked them at once, wondered rather anxiously whether he +had pleased or disappointed them. But he imagined that they would +reserve their opinion. They were, of course, not the people to show +what they thought, and if he had felt any embarrassment, they would +have known how to put him at his ease. Still his type was, no doubt, +new to them and his views might jar. He did not remember what they +said, but they somehow made him feel he was not a stranger but a friend +who had a claim, and when he went to his room he knew he would enjoy +his stay with Featherstone's people. + + + + +VI + +HIS COMRADE'S STORY + +Foster spent the most part of the next day in the open air with his +host. Featherstone had a quiet, genial manner and seemed to have read +much, though he held the narrow views that sometimes mark the +untraveled Englishman. He appeared to be scrupulously just and showed +sound judgment about matters he understood, but he had strong +prejudices and Foster did not think him clever. With his rather +sensitive pride and fastidiousness he was certainly not the man to make +his mark in Canada, and Foster began to understand certain traits of +his comrade's that had puzzled him. Lawrence, although he had keener +intelligence, was not quite so fine a type as his father, and in +consequence stood rough wear better. But he too, in spite of his +physical courage, now and then showed a supine carelessness and tried +to avoid, instead of boldly grappling with, things that jarred. + +They set out to go shooting, but Featherstone stopped to talk to +everybody they met, and showed keen interest in such matters as the +turnip crop and the price of sheep. It was clear that he was liked and +respected. Sometimes he turned aside to examine tottering gates and +blocked ditches, and commented to Foster upon the economics of farming +and the burden of taxes. The latter soon gathered that there was not +much profit to be derived from a small moorland estate and his host was +far from rich. It looked as if it had cost him, and perhaps his +family, some self-denial to send the money that had once or twice +enabled Lawrence, and Foster with him, to weather a crisis. + +At noon they were given a better lunch than Foster had often been +satisfied with at a lonely farm, where Featherstone spoke of him as his +son's partner, and seemed to take an ingenuous pride in making it known +that Lawrence was prospering. This gave Foster a hint that he acted on +later. They, however, shot a brace of partridges in a turnip field, a +widgeon that rose from a reedy tarn, and a woodcock that sprang out of +a holly thicket in a bog. It was a day of gleams of sunlight, passing +showers, and mist that rolled about the hills and swept away, leaving +the long slopes in transient brightness, checkered with the green of +mosses and the red of withered fern. The sky cleared as they turned +homewards, and when they reached the Garth an angry crimson glow spread +across the west. + +Tea was brought them in the hall and Foster, who had changed his +clothes, which was a rare luxury in Canada, sat with much content in a +corner by the hearth. He had been out in the raw wind long enough to +enjoy the rest and warmth, and the presence of two English ladies added +to the charm. Mrs. Featherstone was knitting, but Alice talked to her +father about the shooting and what he had noted on the farms. Foster +thought her cleverer than the others, but it was obvious that her +interest was not forced. She understood agriculture and her remarks +were singularly shrewd. + +In a sense, this was puzzling, for she had, in an extra degree, the +fastidious refinement that marked the rest, and with it a touch of +quiet haughtiness. Although she often smiled, she was characterized by +a restful calm, and her glance was steady and level. Alice was tall, +with unusually regular features, brown eyes, and brown hair, but Foster +could not analyze her charm, which was somehow strengthened by a hint +of reserve. He was in the glow of the fire, and imagined that she once +or twice gave him a glance of thoughtful scrutiny. + +The room was getting dim, but lights had not been brought, and the red +glow outside filled the large oblong of the casement window. Dark fir +branches cut against the lurid color and Foster, looking out, saw the +radiance strike through the straight rows of trunks. + +"Something like Ontario, isn't it?" said Featherstone, indicating the +trees. + +"Yes, in a way, but there's a difference," Foster replied. "In eastern +Manitoba and Ontario the bush is choked and tangled, and runs nearly +eight hundred miles. The small pines are half burned in places; in +others they're wrecked and rotten, and lean across each other as if +they were drunk. Then you can travel all day without finding an +opening, unless it's a lonely lake or a river tumbling among the rocks." + +"It sounds depressing," Mrs. Featherstone remarked. "We must hope you +will find your stay here a pleasant change." + +"The curious thing is that it doesn't feel strange. All I've seen so +far, including the Garth, seems familiar." + +"But perhaps that isn't remarkable. You are English and were, I dare +say, brought up in the country and used to our mode of life." + +Foster saw Alice glance at him and felt he must be frank. + +"No," he said, "my life in England was different from yours. It was +spent in monotonous work, and when I went home at night to a shabby +room in a street of small dingy houses it was too late, and I was often +too dejected, to think of amusements. Twice I spent a glorious ten +days among the hills, but that was all I saw of England unspoiled by +tramway lines and smoke, and the holidays cost a good deal of +self-denial. Railway fares were a serious obstacle." + +Alice smiled, but he thought the look she gave him hinted at approval. + +"Self-denial isn't so unusual as you seem to think. We know something +about it at the Garth." + +"But you sent my partner money when he needed it," Foster answered, +wondering how far he could go. "The last time it was a large amount +and helped us to turn an awkward corner. In fact, we should have gone +under for a time if it hadn't come, and I remember feeling that I owed +much to friends I might never see, because I shared the benefit with +your brother. In its Western sense, partner means more than a business +associate." + +"That is obvious," Alice rejoined quietly, but with meaning. + +"The main thing is that the money seems to have been well spent," +Featherstone interposed. "For all that, we don't know much about what +Lawrence did with it or, indeed, about his life in Canada." + +"It's curious that one gets out of the way of writing home in the West, +and it's often difficult to give one's friends a clear idea of how one +lives. Things are different------" + +Mrs. Featherstone smiled, and Foster saw that his wish to make excuses +for his comrade's negligence was understood. Featherstone, however, +was franker than he expected. + +"There were good reasons for Lawrence's not writing home and they made +it awkward for us to write to him for a time. You can now tell us what +he has done in Canada. We want to know." + +Foster began with some hesitation by relating how he had first met his +comrade in the churned-up mud outside a logging camp after a dispute +with the bullying manager. The men were beaten, but Lawrence and two +or three more from the river-gang would not give in, and started in the +rain, without blankets and with very little food, which a sympathetic +cook stole for them, on a long march to the nearest settlement. There +they took a contract for clearing land, and Foster described how they +lived in a rude bark shack while they felled the trees and piled them +up for burning. It was strenuous work, and having been unable to +collect their wages from the lumber firm, the clothes they could not +replace went to pieces and they slept, for the most part, in the wet +rags they wore by day. But they held out until the work was done and +paid for. Foster tried to do his comrade justice and thought he had +not exaggerated, for Lawrence's philosophic good humor had encouraged +the rest and smoothed over difficulties that threatened to break up the +gang. + +Then he stopped and glanced at the others, wondering whether he had +said too much and had drawn a picture they shrank from contemplating. +Alice's eyes were steadily fixed on him. Mrs. Featherstone looked +grave, but there was a hint of proud satisfaction in her husband's +face. Somewhat to his surprise, Foster saw that he had not jarred or +bored them. + +"You made good; I believe that's the proper phrase," said Featherstone. +"Go on, please." + +Foster did so. His adventures had not appeared remarkable when they +happened, and he did not think himself much of a story-teller, but he +meant to do his best, for his partner's sake. It would be something if +he could show Lawrence's people the courage and cheerfulness with which +he had faced his troubles. Still, he thought it better to vary the +theme, and related how they engaged themselves as salesmen at a +department store, where Lawrence rashly undertook to serve the drugs +and prescribed for confiding customers until a mistake that might have +had disastrous consequences led to his being fired. Foster went with +him, and they next undertook to cook, without any useful knowledge of +the art, for a railroad construction gang. Their incompetence became +obvious when Lawrence attempted to save labor by putting a week's +supply of desiccated apples to soak at once, with the consequence that +the floor of the caboose was covered with swollen fruit that had forced +itself out of the pot. One of the gang, who went in to steal some +fried pork, declared that the blamed apples chased him down the steps. + +Featherstone's chuckle was encouraging, but Foster glanced at Alice and +thought he read another emotion than amusement in her sparkling eyes. +It was now nearly dark, but the glow of the fire touched the others' +faces and nobody seemed to think of ringing for lights. + +He went on to describe their retreat in winter from a worthless mineral +claim, where they had remained until the snow surprised them when their +food was nearly gone. Eight or nine miles a day was the most they +could drag their hand-sledge through the tangled bush, and Foster got +his foot frozen through sleeping in wet boots. The frozen part galled +into a wound, but with provisions running out they could not stop to +rest. The tent and half their blankets had to be thrown away and +Lawrence hauled him on the sledge over rocks and fallen logs, with the +temperature at forty degrees below, until they reached a frozen river, +down which he struggled against a savage wind. + +Then came a profitable contract, which Lawrence obtained against keen +opposition, for supplying telephone posts, and Foster was surprised to +find that the description of their efforts to get the logs out of a +rugged wilderness made a stirring tale. Although he paused once or +twice apologetically, the others made him resume, and he began to wish +he was not in the firelight when he saw that Alice was quietly studying +him. It was his partner's story he meant to tell, but since they were +together he could not leave himself out. + +He could, however, change the scene, and skipping much, came to their +start as general contractors at Gardner's Crossing. The Hulton +Company, which was not so large then, gave them work, but they were +hampered by want of capital, and had to meet the competition of richer +and sometimes unscrupulous antagonists. Still they made progress; +staking all they had on the chance of carrying out risky work that +others would not touch, sometimes testing the patience of creditors, +and now and then outwitting a rival by an ingenious ruse. Lawrence +lived in the single-room office, cooking for himself on an oil-stove, +while Foster camped with their men where they were at work. + +Then they built the sawmill with the help of Lawrence's check from +home, and soon afterwards met with their worst reverse. They had +engaged to supply the Hulton Company with lumber of a certain kind for +some special work, and then found that few of the trees they required +grew near the river. This meant that a skidway must be made over a +very rough hill and a gasolene winding engine bought or hired to haul +the logs out of the next valley. There was, however, another fir +easily accessible that might suit the purpose, but not quite as well, +and Foster related how he and his partner sat up late one night, +calculating costs and wondering whether they should pay Hulton a fine +to break the bargain. He added naively that they were some time +arguing if they should substitute the inferior wood. + +"Whose opinion was it that you should supply the exact material you had +promised?" Featherstone asked. + +"Well," said Foster, "Lawrence said so first, but I think we both meant +to let them have the best." + +Featherstone's glance at his wife indicated relief, but something in +Alice's face showed that she had known what Foster's reply would be. +She had listened with keen interest, and he stopped, half amused and +half embarrassed. Perhaps he had talked too much, and while he meant +to do Lawrence justice, he did not want to play the part of the +indomitable pioneer for the girl's benefit. Moreover, he knew she +would detect, and despise him for, any attempt to do so, and as he +valued her good opinion, it was not modesty alone that led him to make +Lawrence the hero of the piece. + +"So you stuck to your bargain!" Featherstone remarked. "Tell us how +you carried it out." + +Foster forgot himself and the others as he continued, for he had a +vivid memory of the struggle. He took charge of the work in the woods, +while Lawrence tactfully pressed for payment of outstanding accounts, +put off creditors, and somehow provided money for wages. As extra +gangs had to be hired, Foster owned that he did not know how the thing +was done. He cut a grade for the skidway up the hill, slashing tangled +bush and blasting rocks, worked in the snow by moonlight long after his +men stopped, and afterwards learned that Lawrence often went without a +meal when pay-day got near. But they hauled out the logs and the +lumber was delivered. When he stopped, Featherstone looked up with +some color in his face. + +"Thank you," he said. "It is a moving tale. The money we sent you was +well spent. I could have expected nothing better of my son. But I +suppose you found it paid to keep your promise." + +"In this case, it did," Foster answered with a smile. "Hulton's gave +us the first chance of any work they did not care to do themselves; you +see, we had put in a few wood-working machines. In fact, after a time, +Hulton told Lawrence to walk through the factory now and then and send +in anything the heads of departments required. But I've talked long +enough and fear you're bored." + +"No," said Featherstone simply, "you have given us great pleasure and +made us realize the bracing life my son is leading. You could have +done us no favor that would equal this." + +Then he took Foster off to the gun-room, where they smoked and talked +about the day's shooting, until Featherstone said rather abruptly, +"Perhaps I had better tell you that I didn't send Lawrence the check +that enabled you to build the mill. It was not in my power to do so +then." + +"But he said the money came from home." + +"It did. Alice was left a small legacy and insisted on selling the +shares it consisted of in order to help her brother. I must confess +that I thought she was rash, but the money was hers. Now it is obvious +that the sacrifice she made was justified." + +Featherstone began to talk about something else, but Foster felt +embarrassed. It looked as if he owed his success in business to the +girl's generosity, and although he could not see why this should +disturb him, it did. + +He went down to dinner rather early and found Alice in the hall. There +was nobody else about, and by the way she looked up as he advanced he +thought she had been waiting for him. Alice had beauty, but it was her +proud reserve he felt most. She did not give her friendship lightly, +but he believed it was worth winning. + +"I wanted to thank you for explaining things so well," she said. "It's +the first time we have really learned much about my brother's life in +Canada." + +Foster hesitated, "I felt that you wanted to know. But, in a way, it +must have sounded rather egotistical. In fact, the thing wasn't as +easy as you perhaps think." + +Alice smiled. "You couldn't leave yourself out, although it was +obvious that you meant to give my brother the leading part." + +"I honestly don't think I exaggerated." + +"No," she agreed, "it sounded real, and there were touches, little +personal characteristics, you couldn't have imagined. You see, I am +younger than Lawrence and thought him something of a romantic hero +before he left home." Then she paused for a moment. "I got a very bad +shock when he was forced to go. You know why he went?" + +"I don't; I've sometimes thought he wanted to tell me." + +"Then you never asked?" + +"I did not; I think I didn't want to know." + +She gave him a steady searching glance and he felt that if he had been +insincere she would have found out. + +"But you knew there was something wrong. If he had injured somebody in +England, he might have injured you. What made you so trustful?" + +"Your brother himself. Then he was, so to speak, my benefactor. If he +hadn't taken me up, I might have been chopping trees in the snow, +instead of enjoying a holiday in England and, to emphasize the +contrast, staying at a house like this." + +"It doesn't follow; you might have found another opportunity. The +point is that you did trust Lawrence." + +Foster disliked sentiment and knew that if he struck a false note it +would jar. + +"Well," he said, "I don't claim that I'm a judge of character, but one +can't make progress in Canada and be a fool. We had gone hungry in the +bush together, and hauled the hand-sledge across the snow, when it was +very doubtful if we'd make the settlements. Perhaps there isn't a +better way of testing a partner than that. Then a man starts fair in +the new countries, and one feels that this is right. He may have given +way once to some strong temptation and go the straighter for it +afterwards." + +Alice looked at him with a curious gleam in her eyes that made his +heart beat. + +"It was a very strong temptation," she said quietly and stopped as Mrs. +Featherstone came in. + + + + +VII + +THE PACKET + +When he had been a few days at the Garth, Foster thought he had better +take Carmen's packet to Edinburgh. She had said nothing about its +being urgent and he did not want to go, but he must keep his promise +and would afterwards be at liberty. Mrs. Featherstone had given him to +understand that he was to make the Garth his headquarters as long as he +stayed in England, and he looked forward to doing so with much content. +The more he saw of his hosts, the better he liked them, and it was a +privilege to enjoy Alice Featherstone's friendship. She had, of +course, given it him for her brother's sake, but he must try to keep it +on his merits. + +Since he had seen Alice he began to understand Carmen better. Carmen +had charm and knew how to use it to her advantage, while he could not +imagine Alice's employing her beauty to gain an object. She was proud, +with an essentially clean pride, and sincere, while Carmen had a talent +for intrigue. The latter enjoyed using her cleverness to put down a +rival or secure a prominent place; she was a hustler, as they said in +the West. Alice, he thought, would not even claim what was hers; it +must be willingly offered or she would let it go. Yet he knew she +would be a staunch and generous friend to anybody who gained her +confidence. + +This kind of comparison, however, was profitless and perhaps in bad +taste. After all, he was a friend of Carmen's and must do her errand. +He left the Garth next morning, and Featherstone, who made him promise +to come back as soon as possible, drove him across the moors to a small +station on the North British line, where he caught an Edinburgh train. + +When they ran out of the hills at Hawick, rain was falling and the +valley filled with smoky haze, through which loomed factories and +chimney stacks. The station was crowded, and Foster gathered from the +talk of the people who got in that a big wool sale was going on and the +townsfolk who were not at the auction made it a holiday. His +compartment was full, but looking through the window he saw a +fashionably dressed girl hurrying along the platform with a porter. +They tried one or two carriages, in which there seemed to be no room, +and the guard had blown his whistle when they came abreast of Foster's +compartment. Opening the door as the train began to move, he held out +his hand and pulled the girl in. + +"My bag; it mustn't be left!" she cried, trying to get back to the +door, but Foster caught the bag as the porter held it up and put it on +the rack. + +"There's a seat in the corner," he said and went into the corridor. + +When they stopped at Galashiels a number of people got out, and he +returned to the compartment. It was now unoccupied except by an old +man and the girl he had helped, who gave him a grateful smile. + +"I hadn't time to thank you, but I should have missed the train if you +had not been prompt," she said. + +Foster did not know if Scottish etiquette warranted anything more than +a conventional reply, but he ventured to remark: "You certainly seemed +to have cut things rather fine." + +"I had to drive some distance and the hill roads were bad; then when we +got to the town the streets were crowded." + +"That would be sae," the old man agreed. "Hawick's gey thrang at the +wool sales when the yarn trade is guid." + +Foster liked to talk to strangers and as the girl had not rebuffed him, +he took her cloak, which looked very wet, from the rack. + +"Perhaps I'd better shake this in the corridor and then we can hang it +up," he said. + +She allowed him to do so and the old man remarked: + +"Guid gear's worth the saving, and I was thinking it would be nane the +waur o' a bit shake, but if ye had leeved to my age among the mosses, +ye'd no' find yereself sae soople." + +"Any kind of gear's worth taking care of." + +"That's true," agreed the other. "A verra praise-worthy sentiment, if +ye practice it. But I wouldna' say ye were a Scot." + +"In a sense, I'm a Canadian, but from what I've seen of the Ontario +Scots the difference isn't very marked. Anyhow, they don't buy new +material until the old's worn out." + +The man chuckled, but Foster thought the girl looked interested. + +"Then you come from Canada," she said. "Do you know any of the Ontario +cities?" + +"I have been in Toronto, but I know the small towns near the Manitoba +border best. In fact, I left an ambitious place called Gardner's +Crossing about fourteen days ago." + +From the quick glance she gave him he imagined that she had heard of +the town, but she said, "I have some friends in Ontario and understand +that they have had what they call a set-back there. Did this extend to +the neighborhood you came from?" + +Foster told her something about the development of the lumber trade and +mining, but although he had hardly expected her to be interested he +thought she was, and the old man's shrewd remarks helped the +conversation along. + +"Isn't the Crossing where the big factory is? I forget the name of +it," she asked by and by. + +"Hulton's," said Foster, and afterwards thought she tactfully +encouraged him to talk about the manufacturing firm, although he did +not mention Fred Hulton's death. Her manner, however, was quite +correct; he had been of some small help, which warranted her conversing +with him to pass the time. That was all, and when their companion got +out and she opened a book he went to the smoking-compartment. + +When he left the train at the Waverley station he saw her on the +platform and she gave him a slight bow, but he understood that their +acquaintance ended there and was content. After lunch he walked along, +Princes Street and back to the castle. The sky was clear, the sun +shone on the old tall houses, and a nipping north-easter blew across +the Forth. In spite of its age and modern industry, the town looked +strangely clean and cold. No smoke could hang about it in the nipping +wind; its prevailing color was granite-gray. The Forth was a streak of +raw indigo, and the hills all round were steely blue. Edinburgh was +like no English town; it had an austere half-classical beauty that was +peculiar to itself; perhaps Quebec, though different, resembled it most +of all the cities he had seen. + +Then he remembered Carmen's packet, and after asking a passer-by took a +tram-car that carried him through the southern quarter of the town into +a wide road, lined by well-built stone houses. Standing in small, neat +gardens, they ran back to the open country, with a bold ridge of moors +in the distance. Foster got down where he was directed and crossed the +road to one of the houses. They were all much alike and he thought +hinted at the character of their occupants. One would expect to find +the people who lived there prosperous citizens with sober, conventional +habits. + +He went up a short, tiled path and rang the bell. A smart maid-servant +showed him into a small, morning-room, where everything was very neat, +and after a few moments a man came in. He was the kind of man Foster +had expected to find in such a house, well-dressed, with polite but +rather formal manners, and Foster briefly stated his business. He +thought the man looked at him sharply, but it was about four o'clock in +the afternoon and the light was not good. + +"Mr. Graham does not live here now; he left a week or two ago," he +said. "Do you know him personally?" + +"No," said Foster. "Miss Austin asked me to give him the packet." + +"Then you know Mr. Austin." + +"In a way," said Foster, smiling. "We speak when we meet on the +street, but don't get much further. In fact, Austin's a business rival +of mine." + +The man seemed to ponder for a moment or two. Then he said, "I gather +that you want to deliver the packet, not to post it?" + +"That's so. I don't know if it matters much, but I'd like to put it in +Graham's hands." + +"Very well. He's gone to Newcastle, but I have his address somewhere. +If you will wait a minute or two, I'll look." + +He took the packet, as if he meant to write the address on it, and +Foster sat down. The door of the room was half open and while he +waited somebody entered the house. Steps came along the hall, and a +girl pushed the door back, and then stopped, looking at him in +surprise. He understood this as he saw she was the girl he had helped +into the train. + +"I didn't know you were coming here," she said. + +"Nor did I, in a sense," Foster answered with a smile. "I mean I +didn't know it was your house." + +"My name was on the label of the bag and rather conspicuous." + +"It would have meant nothing if I had seen it. In fact, I must own I +don't know it now." + +The girl looked puzzled, and Foster explained that he had come with a +packet, but had merely been given Graham's name and the number of the +house. He added that he had found he must look for the man in +Newcastle. + +"Then you are a friend of Mr. Austin's?" she said. + +Foster thought it strange that she had not told him she knew Austin +when she asked about the Crossing, but he replied: "I'm a friend of +Miss Austin's." + +"Ah!" she said thoughtfully; "do you mind explaining what you mean by +that?" + +"Perhaps it's hardly worth while, but I can't claim that Austin and I +are particularly friendly. Our business interests sometimes clash." + +She was silent for a few moments, and he wondered why both she and the +man had been curious to know how far his acquaintance with Austin went. +Then she looked up with a quick movement. "Newcastle is not a charming +town, and if you have no other reason for going there, it might be +better to post the packet." + +Foster was somewhat puzzled. She had spoken meaningly, as if she meant +to give him a hint. + +"The trouble is that I promised Miss Austin to deliver it." + +"You have brought it to England," she persisted. "It will be safe in +the post------" + +She stopped with a glance at the door, and Foster heard a step in the +passage. Then she quietly turned to the man who had taken the packet. + +"I would have missed the train at Hawick but for this gentleman's +help," she said. "Still, I did not know he was coming here until I saw +him as I passed the door." + +The other, who had looked at her rather sharply, nodded and gave Foster +the packet. + +"As there was room enough, I wrote the new address on the cover." + +Foster thanked him and took his leave, but as the man went before him +to the door the girl made a sign. + +"Post it," she whispered and turned back into the room. + +After leaving the house Foster walked along the road in a thoughtful +mood. The girl was apparently the man's daughter or niece. Their +relative ages warranted the surmise, and her quick explanation of how +she came to be talking to a stranger indicated that she recognized his +authority, while Foster thought she had been disturbed when she heard +his step. It was strange that she should urge him to post the packet, +and he would sooner have done so, but it was not a long journey to +Newcastle and he must keep his promise. Then he saw a tram-car coming +and dismissed the matter. + +Going back to his hotel, he found there was an evening train and +decided to leave by it. Edinburgh had attractions, but he could come +back and was anxious to get rid of the packet, moreover he grudged the +time he spent away from the Garth. There were not many passengers at +the station and he found an empty compartment, where he read a +newspaper until he got tired and lifting a corner of the blind looked +out. Here and there a light rushed back through the darkness and +vanished as the express sped south with a smoothness that was a +contrast to the jolting he had been used to in Canada. Indeed, except +for the roar when they ran across a bridge and the confused flashing +past of lamps as they swept through a station, he could hardly have +imagined himself on board a train. There was, however, not much to be +seen, and he took out the packet. + +It looked somewhat bulkier and he examined it carefully, but the cover +did not seem to have been removed. It could not have been replaced by +another, because the original address was there and he knew Carmen's +hand; then there was a seal, which he did not think could have been +tampered with. Besides, the man had only had it for a minute or two, +and if he had opened it, would probably have taken something out +instead of putting something in. Foster decided that he was mistaken +about its size and returned it to his pocket. + +Then he wanted a cigarette and took out the case he had got in the fur +coat. Since he had left the coat in Montreal, the case was the only +record of his adventure on the train, and he wondered whether he would +ever be able to restore it to its owner and speculated languidly about +the man. As the latter knew his name, it was strange that he had not +communicated with him at the Windsor, as he had promised. He had +obviously not been attacked, because there had been nothing about it in +the Canadian newspapers. The thing was puzzling, but after all it did +not concern Foster much and he thought about something else. + +It was late when he arrived at Newcastle and went to an hotel. There +was fog and rain next morning, and he saw very little of the town, +which seemed filled with smoke. Taking a tram-car that carried him +past rows of dingy buildings and shops where lights twinkled, he got +out at the corner of a narrow street that ran back into the haze. +After looking at the address on the packet, he plunged into the gloom +beside a row of tall, sooty buildings. There was no pavement, and here +and there a cart stood beneath an opening in the wall. The buildings +were apparently warehouses, but some of the doors had brass plates and +lights shone in the upper windows. By and by he found the number he +wanted and entered a dirty arch, inside which a few names were painted +on the wall. Graham's was not there, but he went up the steps to +inquire at the first office he reached. + +The lower stories were used as a warehouse and he came to the top +landing before he saw a name that seemed to be Danish or Scandinavian +painted on a door. Going in, he knocked on the counter. The office +was small and shabby and smelt of bacon, which he thought indicated +that its occupant dealt in provisions, but he could not see much +because of a glass partition. When he was getting impatient, an old +man came to the counter. + +"Can you tell me if there's a Mr. Graham in this building?" Foster +asked. + +"Yes, he's here," said the other. "What do you want?" + +Foster said he had brought a packet from Canada, and the old man, who +looked rather hard at him, lifted a flap in the counter and told him to +pass through. A door in the partition opened as he advanced and +another man beckoned him to come in. It looked as if the latter had +heard what had passed, but this saved an explanation and Foster, who +asked if he was Graham, put the packet on a table. There was not much +else in the small, dusty room, except a cupboard fitted with +pigeon-holes, a desk, and a safe. + +"This is from Miss Austin of Gardner's Crossing," he remarked. + +Graham glanced at the packet carelessly, as if he did not consider it +of much importance, and Foster felt puzzled. The fellow was not as old +as Carmen's father, but Foster thought there was nothing about him that +would attract a girl used to admiration, as Carmen was. He was +certainly not handsome and had, on the whole, a commonplace look, while +he was obviously in a small way of business. + +"Thank you," he said. "It seems you have been to Edinburgh. We had a +branch there, but closed it recently. Newcastle has more facilities +for importing our goods. I'm afraid you have been put to some trouble." + +Foster replied that he did not mind this, since he had promised Miss +Austin to bring the packet and she was a friend of his, but although he +studied the man's face saw nothing to indicate that he was interested. + +"Are you staying here?" he asked, and when Foster told him that he was +going back as soon as he could, resumed: "If you had been staying, I +would have been glad to take you about the town; but, after all, +there's nothing much in the way of amusement going on. I might arrange +to meet you in the afternoon, but must now finish some letters for the +Continental mail." + +Foster said he could not wait and went out, feeling that the other was +pleased to get rid of him. Graham was obviously a small importer of +provisions, and he could not see why the girl in Edinburgh had warned +him to post the packet. Carmen's reason for sending such a man +something she valued was impossible to discern. + +This, however, was not Foster's business, and after lunch he caught a +train to Hexham and, finding he could get no farther, spent the night +in the old Border town. + + + + +VIII + +AN OFFER OF HELP + +It rained and the light was going when Foster sat in a window seat of +the library at the Garth. He was alone, but did not mind this. The +Featherstones treated him as one of the family; he was free to do what +he liked, and Alice had just gone away, after talking to him for half +an hour. Lighting a cigarette, he mused and looked about. + +Outside, the firs rose, black and dripping, above the wet drive. +Between their trunks he saw the river, stained with peat, brawling +among the stones, and the streaks of foam that stretched across a +coffee-colored pool. Then a few boggy fields ran back into the mist +that hung about the hills. A red fire threw a soft glow about the +library. The room was somewhat shabby but spacious. Rows of old books +in stained bindings, which Foster thought nobody read, faded into the +gloom at its other end. It was warm and quiet, and he found it a +comfortable retreat. + +He had now been a fortnight at the Garth and did not want to leave. +Featherstone and his wife obviously wished him to stay; he was grateful +for the welcome they had given him, and felt as if he belonged to the +place. What Alice thought was not clear, but she treated him with a +quiet friendliness that he found singularly pleasant. By and by he +began to wonder why Lawrence had not written, particularly as he had +brought away a bag of his. Foster had one like it, and as both had its +owner's initials stamped outside, he imagined the baggage agent had +been deceived by the F when he affixed the check. Lawrence's bag, +however, had his name engraved upon the lock. + +Foster sat down in a big chair by the fire, and imagined he fell +asleep, because it had got nearly dark without his noticing it when the +opening of the door roused him. Looking up, he saw Featherstone come +in with a letter in his hand. The post did not arrive until the +afternoon. + +"Ah!" he said, "you have heard from Lawrence." + +"No, but the letter is about him," Featherstone replied, and sitting +down opposite, was silent for a few moments. His pose was slack and he +looked as if he had got a shock. + +"I don't see how you can help, but perhaps you had better know how +matters are," he resumed and gave the letter to Foster. + +It was short, but Foster, who was surprised and disturbed, understood +his host's alarm. Daly had written from Hexham, asking, or rather +summoning, Featherstone to meet him there next day, although he stated +that if this was impossible, he would arrive at the Garth in the +evening. There was a threat in the intimation that it would be to +Lawrence's advantage if Featherstone saw him soon. + +"Well," said Foster dryly, "it looks as if our plot had succeeded +better than we thought. We certainly didn't expect the fellow would +follow me to England." + +Featherstone did not seem to understand, and Foster remembered that, +with the object of saving him anxiety, he had said nothing about Daly's +having extorted money from Lawrence in Canada. He now explained the +situation in as few words as possible. + +"But Lawrence ought to have told me!" Featherstone exclaimed. + +"I don't know that it would have been of much use. You see, Lawrence +meant to put Daly off the track, and if he failed in this, to fight. +When I heard of it, I quite agreed." + +"But he can't fight," Featherstone objected in a strained voice. "I'd +have urged him to do so, if it had been possible. We're not cowards." + +"Why is it impossible?" + +"Don't you know?" Featherstone asked with some surprise. + +"I know my partner's in trouble; that's all." + +Featherstone hesitated, as if he wanted to take the other into his +confidence, but shrank from doing so. Then he said with forced +quietness: "If this rogue knows as much as I suspect, he can get my son +arrested." + +"On a serious charge? I don't ask what it is." + +"It would mean a long imprisonment, to say nothing of the humiliation," +Featherstone answered brokenly, and was silent for a minute with the +firelight on his tense face. Then he went on with an effort: "I must +tell you what I can. Lawrence in a desperate moment injured, I had +better call it robbed, a relative of ours. The boy had got into +difficulties, but hitherto, although he had been a fool, there was a +certain generosity in his rashness. He was very hard pressed--I have +seen that since--but I can make no excuse for what he did." + +"He made good afterwards," Foster interposed. + +"We tried to think so, but it looks as if one can't make good. The +punishment for a wrong done, or consented to, must be borne. Well, +when I learned the truth I went to the man my son had robbed and +offered to repay him. He said he would take no money, for reasons that +I ought to grasp, and sent me away afraid, because I knew he was hard +and very just." + +Featherstone paused, and Foster, who murmured a few words of awkward +sympathy, waited until he resumed; "I am a magistrate, pledged to do my +duty, but I helped my boy to escape, and the man I was afraid of did +nothing, though he knew. After a time, I went to him again, and he +gave me to understand that he would not interfere so long as Lawrence +stayed away, but must be free to take the proper line if he came back. +It's plain now that he knew my son's faults and meant to give him the +chance of overcoming them by hard work in Canada. At last, when he was +very ill, he sent for me and said I could let Lawrence know he was +forgiven." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "now I understand what my partner meant." + +"This was not long before you came," Featherstone continued. "It was a +wonderful relief to know the danger was over, and then you told us how +Lawrence had grown out of his folly and become a useful man. Although +we longed to see him, our satisfaction was complete. Now this letter +comes, and I fear my wife is unable to bear the strain again." + +Foster was moved by his distress. Featherstone was proud and +honorable, and it must have cost him much to help his son to steal +away. Indeed, Foster thought what he had done then would always +trouble him, and after all it had proved useless. The worst was that +his sensitive uprightness might make him an easy victim of the +unscrupulous adventurer. But Foster did not mean him to be victimized. +As a rule, he was rather humorous than dramatic, but he got up and +stood with his hands clenched. + +"This thing touches us both, sir. Lawrence is your son, but he's my +friend, and I've got to see him through, which warrants my giving you +the best advice I can. Very well, you must show a bold front to Daly; +to begin with you can't go to Hexham." + +Featherstone gave him a grateful glance. He felt dejected and +desperate, but Foster looked comfortingly resolute. At first he had +welcomed him for his son's sake, but had come to like him for himself. + +"No," he agreed. "I can't go; but that doesn't help us; because he'll +come here." + +"Yes; he must be met. But do you know how he came to learn about the +matter?" + +"I don't, but my relative, who was interested in politics and social +schemes, had a secretary. I can't remember his name, but this might be +the fellow." + +"Then it's curious he didn't get on Lawrence's track before. Anyway, +he must be met with the bluff direct now." + +"How can he be bluffed?" Featherstone asked with a hopeless gesture. +"He can have my son arrested if I don't agree to his demands." + +"He would first have to tell the police all he knew, and as soon as he +did this his hold on you would be gone. Then they'd ask why he'd kept +the secret, which would be remarkably hard to answer, although he might +perhaps take the risk out of malice if he saw you meant to be firm. +For all that, you must be firm; you can't buy him off. He'd come back +later with a fresh demand. Would your estate stand the strain?" + +"My wife and daughter would make any sacrifice for Lawrence's sake." + +"The sacrifice would benefit this bloodsucker, which is a different +thing," Foster rejoined. "Then, even if you impoverished your family, +you'd only put off the reckoning, which would come when the fellow had +taken all you'd got. In short, he must be bluffed off now." + +He sat down and pondered and there was silence for some minutes. It +had got dark and he heard the steady patter of the rain. He knew he +had undertaken a difficult task, and felt daunted because he could not +see his way. Still, it looked as if the happiness of these charming +people, and perhaps his partner's future, depended upon him. If that +were so, he must not fail them. + +"Well," he said by and by, "my opinion is that Daly thinks Lawrence is +here, so to speak within his reach, which must be a strong +encouragement. If he learns the truth, he'll, no doubt, go back to +Canada and get on his track. I'd like to set him searching up and down +Great Britain. There would be something amusing in his wasting his +time and money, but at present I don't see how it could be done. +However, we have until to-morrow to think of a plan." + +Featherstone left him soon afterwards and he stayed in the library +until dinner, which was a melancholy function. It was necessary to +appear undisturbed while the servants were about, and he envied his +friends' fine self-control. These people had courage and when they +talked carelessly about things of no importance he did his best to play +up. Still, although they sometimes laughed, their amusement sounded +forced, there was a curious feeling of tension, and he thought Mrs. +Featherstone once or twice showed signs of strain. + +When the meal was over he made an excuse for leaving them alone, but +some time afterwards Alice came into the hall, where he sat quietly +thinking. She was calm, but he saw she had heard about the threatened +danger. He got up as she advanced, but she beckoned him to sit down. + +"My father has told me about the letter, and I understand you know," +she said. + +"I wish I knew what ought to be done! It's an awkward matter. To tell +the truth, it bothers me." + +Alice sat down, shielding her face from the fire with her hand. + +"You mean you feel you ought to put it right?" + +"Something of the kind," said Foster, forcing a smile, "In a sense, of +course, that's presumptuous; but then, you see, I'm in your brother's +debt." + +"You like to pay your debts," Alice remarked, fixing a level glance on +him. + +"When I can; but that's not all. I'm not in Lawrence's debt alone," +Foster answered with some diffidence. "I came over here, a stranger, +ignorant of your ideas and customs, and you made me welcome. Of +course, if I had jarred you, you wouldn't have let me know; but there +are degrees of hospitality." + +Alice smiled. "You needn't labor your excuses for wanting to help us, +and you are not a stranger now. You must have understood this when my +father showed you the letter." + +"Thank you," Foster replied with feeling, and was silent for the next +few moments. Alice, who was proud and reserved, trusted him, and he +must somehow justify her confidence. He had a vague plan in his mind, +but it needed working out. + +"But we must be practical," she resumed. "Can you help? You must see +that there is nobody else who can." + +Foster made a sign of agreement, for it was plain that Featherstone +could not tell his friends about his trouble. + +"I begin to think I might; but although I haven't quite made my plans +yet, I see some danger. Would you take a risk for your brother's sake?" + +The girl's eyes sparkled, and he saw that she had Lawrence's reckless +courage. He had heard his partner laugh when they faced starvation on +the frozen trail. + +"I would take any risk to save him or punish the blackmailer." + +"Very well. I rather think your father will leave things to me, and I +have a half-formed plan. There ought to be some humor in the plot, if +I can work it out. Daly's plainly convinced that your brother's here, +and I don't see why he shouldn't be encouraged to stick to his opinion. +In fact, the longer he looks for Lawrence, the more amusing the thing +will get. Of course, he may turn spiteful when he finds he has been +tricked, but he, no doubt, means to do all the harm he can already. +However, you must give me until tomorrow." + +Alice got up and when he rose said quietly, but with something in her +voice that thrilled him: "I think you like my mother and she knows I +meant to talk to you. Lawrence is very dear to her and if he were +dragged back into disgrace, now when we thought it was all forgotten +and he has made a new start in Canada, I am not sure she could bear the +shock. There is nobody else who could help us and we trust to you." + +"Then I must try to deserve it," Foster answered with a bow. "But what +about your old servant, John? Have you much confidence in him?" + +The girl's tense face relaxed. "In a sense, John is one of the family, +but if you want his help, you must use some tact and not expect Western +frankness. He is remarkably discreet." + +Foster opened the door for her, and then went to the gun-room, where he +found John, who had driven him from the station when he arrived, +pouring out some Rangoon oil. Sitting down carelessly, he lighted a +cigarette. + +"I understand you were rather fond of my partner, Lawrence +Featherstone," he remarked. + +"If I may say so, sir, I was. A very likable young gentleman." + +"I expect you know he got into trouble." + +John looked pained at his bluntness. "I heard something about it, sir. +Perhaps Mr. Lawrence was a little wild. It sometimes happens in very +good families." + +"Just so," said Foster. "Would you be surprised to hear he hadn't got +out of that trouble yet?" + +"Not surprised exactly; I was afraid of something like it, sir." + +Foster knew this was as much as he would admit, but felt that he could +trust the man. + +"Very well. My partner's in some danger, and with Mr. Featherstone's +permission I must try to see him through, but may want your help. I +suppose you're willing?" + +"Yes, sir. If it's for Mr. Lawrence, you can take it that I am." + +"You can drive an automobile pretty well?" + +"Not like a professional, sir, but now we don't keep a chauffeur I +often drive to the station." + +"That's satisfactory. I may want the car to-morrow evening, but nobody +else must know about this." + +"Very good, sir," said John. "When you're ready you can give me your +instructions; they'll go no further." + +Then he dipped a rag in the oil and began to rub a gun, and Foster went +out, feeling satisfied. It was plain that he could rely upon the old +fellow, who he thought was unflinchingly loyal to the Featherstones. +After all, it was something to have the respect and affection of one's +servant. + + + + +IX + +THE FALSE TRAIL + +When Foster got up next morning he had made his plan, and spent ten +minutes explaining it to John. The old fellow understood his orders, +and although he listened with formal deference, the faint twinkle in +his eyes showed that he approved. After breakfast, Foster asked +Featherstone to come out on the terrace and while they walked about +indicated the line he thought it best to take. + +Featherstone agreed, but expressed some misgivings. "There may be +danger in putting Daly on the track, and after all I'm only delaying a +crisis that must be faced." + +"The longer it's delayed, the better; something may happen in the +meantime," Foster replied. "Then, you see, the track is false. When +the fellow finds you obstinate, he'll try to get hold of Lawrence, +particularly as he got money from him before; but as he believes +Lawrence is in England, he'll have some trouble. The advantage is that +he won't be able to bother you while all his time and energy's occupied +by following me." + +"That is possible," said Featherstone. "But you may find it difficult +to get away from the rogue, since you must give him some kind of a +clew." + +Foster laughed. "I don't mind the difficulty, sir. In fact, I +imagine, I'm going to enjoy the chase." + +"There's a point that must be thought of. If he goes to the police +when he can't find Lawrence, it would be awkward. I should be no +better off than I am now." + +"It's unlikely. So long as Daly sees the smallest chance of extorting +money he'll keep his secret. The reason's obvious." + +"Well," said Featherstone, with feeling, "you are doing us a service we +can't repay. I frankly don't like the plan, because it can only work +at your expense, but it will give us time and I can think of nothing +else." + +Foster left him with a feeling of pleasant excitement. He was doing +his host a favor and this was something, but the adventure appealed to +him for other reasons. He had, in Canada, found scope for his energy +in profitable work, but there was a reckless vein in him, and it was +exhilarating to feel that he could now follow his bent, without being +hampered by the necessity for making the undertaking pay. After all, +there was not much enjoyment in what one did for money, and he thought +he was going to get some amusement out of the game. Still, he did not +want to leave the Garth. Alice had treated him with a quiet +friendliness he valued and he began to hope he was making some progress +in her good opinion. It was, however, comforting to feel that he was +going to save her pain, and for the rest of the day he was conscious of +a cheerfulness he tried to hide in view of the anxiety the others had +to bear. + +In the evening John put Lawrence's traveling bag under a small table +near the door in the hall and arranged the cloth so that it hung over +and covered part of the bag but did not hide it altogether. He took +some trouble, and when he was satisfied it looked as if the bag had +been carelessly placed where it would be out of sight but ready to be +picked up quickly if its owner meant to leave the house in a hurry. +Moreover, if anybody thought it worth while to look under the table, +the letters L.F. could be distinguished and Lawrence's name was +engraved upon the lock. Foster, having learned from the railway guide +when Daly would arrive, had arranged that he should be left alone for a +minute or two in the hall. If the fellow made good use of the time, so +much the better. + +After putting on a gray waterproof, leggings, and strong boots, Foster +stood at the open door of his room until he heard Daly come in. There +was silence for the next minute, and then footsteps echoed along a +passage as the visitor was taken to the library, where Featherstone +would receive him, and Foster pulled out his watch. As there was no +town for some distance and Daly would not expect to be asked to stay, +he no doubt intended to return to the station across the moor, where he +could catch the last train. Allowing for the long drive, he could not +stop long at the Garth; but Foster must give Featherstone time enough. +The latter had a rather difficult part, because he must allow Daly to +state his terms, and not reject them until the last moment. He was too +honest and too proud to dissemble well, but he was not a fool and there +was much at stake. + +At length, Foster stole quietly down the stairs, and smiled as he +remarked that the cloth on the small table had been pulled aside. This +had been done cautiously, but a fold that overhung the edge was not in +quite its former position. Then he picked up the bag and went out, +making noise enough to be heard in the library as he shut the hall +door. When he went down the steps he saw the lights of the car that +had brought Daly glimmer on the wet gravel of the drive. The back of +the car was next him, for it had been turned round ready to start. +Then Featherstone's car rolled up quietly, and Foster was getting in +when he stopped and felt his heart beat as a slender figure appeared on +the terrace. He turned, with his foot on the step, and waited until +Alice came up. + +"I couldn't let you go without a last word of thanks," she said. "It +is splendid! We can't forget." + +"I believe I'm going to have an amusing trip," Foster replied. "Then, +you see, the Garth is a remarkably nice place to come back to, and +there's the pleasure of looking forward to my return. But I'm +unselfish enough to hope I won't have that satisfaction all to myself." + +Alice smiled, but there was something very friendly in her look and her +voice was unusually soft. + +"You can always be sure of your welcome and we will miss you when you +are away. I very sincerely wish you good luck." + +Foster was seldom theatrical, but felt the occasion justified his doing +something unusual. John, having already grasped the wheel, had his +back to them, and Foster took the girl's hand, which rested on the +rail, and kissed it. She made a little abrupt movement, and he thought +he saw a tinge of color in her face, but she did not look angry and he +felt a strange exultant thrill. + +"Make as much noise as you can," he said to John. + +The car backed across the rattling gravel, and the girl's figure faded +into the gloom; then John turned the wheel and they shot forward down +the drive. The lights of the other car vanished, there was a splash as +they swung into the wet road, and Foster pulled the rug around him when +he had struck a match and noted the time. + +"You needn't hurry her too much," he said. "If I catch the train by +about a minute, it is all I want." + +"Very good, sir. If I may remark, the other's a powerful car." + +"I don't think they'll try to overtake us until we're near the +station," Foster answered with a laugh. "But we can't allow it then." + +"No, sir," said John. "I quite understand." + +They ran down the valley at a moderate speed, and Foster, looking +around when they came to a straight piece of road, was not surprised to +see a gleam of light in the distance. He lost it a few moments +afterwards, but it flashed out again every now and then, until they +plunged into a thick fir wood. They were about half-way to the +station, but the light had not got much nearer. He had, however, not +expected it to do so, because he thought Daly would be satisfied if he +kept his supposititious victim in sight. The danger would arise when +they got near the station, and whether they overcame it or not depended +on John's coolness and nerve. Foster thought the man would not fail +him. + +It was a dark night and a damp haze thickened the gloom. Stone walls +and ragged thorn bushes leaped up in the glare of the lamps and faded, +but one could see nothing outside the bright beam. This was a +disadvantage, because Foster could not tell where he was and much +depended on his reaching the station with exactly the right time to +spare. He was rather anxious about it, since his plan would be spoiled +at the start if the train were late. By striking a match in the +shelter of the screen, he could see his watch, but it did not seem +prudent to distract John's attention often. + +By and by the walls vanished and withered heath, glistening with damp, +rolled past the car. They were running through a peat moss, with a +deep ditch on one side, and climbing an incline, to judge by the heavy +throb of the engine. Shallow ruts, filled with water, ran on in the +blaze ahead and showers splashed about the wheels. Outside the bright +beam the darkness was impenetrable. Foster, however, was conscious of +a pleasant thrill. If one looked at the thing in one way, he was +plunging into trouble that might have been avoided; but he had been +prudent long enough and found a strange satisfaction in being rash. +Besides, no matter what difficulties he got into, he would be repaid by +the memory of the look Alice had given him. The way the warm color +crept into her face had stirred him as nothing else had done. Anyhow, +he had started on the adventure and was going to see it through. + +After a time, they sped across a bridge, where a burn splashed noisily +down a ravine, and John asked: "How long have we got, sir?" + +"Ten minutes, if the train's punctual." + +"And where's the other car, sir?" + +Foster, whose eyes were dazzled by the match he had struck, looked +round and saw a misty flash in the dark. + +"About half a mile behind, I think." + +"Very good, sir. It all depends upon the train now. She's not often +late." + +The throb of the engine quickened and struck a sharper note, and Foster +felt the car leap forward up the hill. Turning in his seat, he watched +the flickering gleam behind and saw it grow fainter and then gradually +get bright. It looked as if the pursuers had lost sight of the front +car's tail lamp and were increasing their speed. + +"They're creeping up," he said to John, who did not reply. + +Foster thought they had now reached the top of the moor, and as they +swung up and down across the heathy undulations a streak of light +flashed out in the distance. + +"That's the train," he said. + +"Yes, sir. You can see her for two or three miles." + +Then there was a change in the sound and motion, and Foster knew the +engine was running all-out. Showers of small stones and water flew up +about the wheels and the wind whipped his face, but the following light +was a little nearer when he looked behind. The other car had reached +the summit and it would be a close race, but he thought they could keep +their lead long enough. Then he looked ahead and saw that the bright +streak he had noticed had gone. The fireman had, no doubt, closed the +furnace door, but the lights from the carriage windows twinkled faintly +across the heath. He could not see the station, but it was obvious +that he had not much time to spare. + +A few moments later they swept across a low rise and a faint blur of +buildings loomed among a cluster of lights. They were now going +furiously and he seized the side of the car as they swung round a +curve. He felt the near wheels sink as they crushed through spongy +sod, and the car tilted, but they got round, and there was a sudden jar +when the station lay some fifty yards ahead. Foster jumped out before +the car quite stopped. + +"Round with her! I'm all right," he said. + +"Very good, sir. If I might remark------" + +Foster heard nothing more as he ran up the road, carrying the bag. The +train was very near; he could hear the roar it made in a shallow +cutting, but as he reached the station the sound ceased and the engine +rolled past. He took a ticket to Edinburgh, and hurrying across the +bridge, picked a compartment that had another occupant and stood at the +door, where he could see the steps he had come down. There was nobody +on the bridge and he seemed to be the only passenger, but a porter +began to drag some packages from the van and leisurely put them on a +truck. Foster quivered with impatience as he watched the fellow. If +he kept the train another minute, it might be too late. Then he +glanced back at the bridge. Nobody came down the steps yet, but the +porter had not finished, and one could still catch the train. + +He crossed the floor to the opposite window, from which he could see +the booking office, but as he loosed the strap he felt a jerk. Then +the engine panted and the wheels began to turn. He ran back to the +other door, but there was only the porter on the platform and the lamps +were sliding past. Pulling up the window, he turned to the passenger +with a forced smile. + +"Sorry if I disturbed you! The man I was looking for hasn't come." + +In the meantime, John turned the car round and drove back to the bend. +The road was narrow, but there was room for two vehicles to pass, +provided that both kept well to the proper side. John, however, took +the middle and did not swerve much when a dazzling beam swept round the +curve. He blew his horn; there was an answering shriek from an +electric hooter, and then a savage shout. John, who was near the left +side now, but not so close as he ought to have been, freed the clutch +and used the brake, and the other car, missing him by an inch or two, +plunged into the wet grass across the road. As he stopped he saw the +boggy soil fly up and the lamps sink towards the ground. Jumping off, +he found the car had brought up in front of a wall, with the front +wheels buried to the axle. The driver and a very angry man in a soft +hat were getting out. + +"You nearly wrecked us," said the latter. "What d'you mean by fooling +about the middle of the road like that?" + +"I wasn't quite in the middle, sir. It's an awkward curve and your +lights dazzled me." + +"Where's the man you brought?" + +"I imagine he's caught the train, sir," John answered with +imperturbable calm. + +He thought the other came near to knocking him down, for he clenched +his fist, but after a savage exclamation went back to the car. + +"The engine won't move her. How are we going to get her out?" he said. + +"I could give you a pull, sir," John replied with respectful gravity, +"They keep a rope at the station for shunting. Perhaps you had better +send the driver, sir." + + + + +X + +THE DROVE ROAD + +Foster spent the next day lounging about Edinburgh and looking out for +Daly, whom he had expected to follow him. He, however, saw nothing of +the man, and felt half disappointed, because he missed the excitement +of the chase. It was too cold and wet to roam the streets with much +enjoyment, there was no good play at the theaters, and he had seen +picture palaces in Canada. Moreover, he had led an active life, and +having nothing to do soon began to get irksome. It was curious that he +had never felt bored at the Garth, even when he scarcely saw Alice +during the day, but then the Garth had a peculiar charm. It was +possible that Daly had gone back there, and he had been a fool to leave. + +He was sitting in the hotel smoking-room next morning when a stranger +came up and sat down close by. The man had a quiet, thoughtful air, +and lighted his pipe. There was nothing about him to indicate his rank +or occupation, and Foster wondered what he wanted. + +"I hope you won't object to my asking if you're a Canadian?" he said. + +"I don't know if I object or not. Anyhow, I'm English." + +"But perhaps you have been in Canada," the stranger remarked politely. + +Foster looked hard at him. "I haven't the pleasure of your +acquaintance, but had better hint that you're wasting time if you're a +friend of Daly's." + +The stranger smiled and Foster saw that he had been incautious. "I +don't know the gentleman." + +"Then what is your business?" + +"If you insist on knowing, I'm connected with the police." + +"Well," said Foster, "I'll pay you a compliment by stating that I +wouldn't have imagined it; but I don't understand what the police have +to do with me." + +"It's very possible that they have nothing to do with you, but you can +perhaps make that plain. You signed the visitor's book John Foster, +which doesn't quite correspond with the letters on your bag." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "I begin to understand. No doubt, you noticed +Lawrence Featherstone's name on the lock, and the Canadian Pacific +label?" + +"I did," the other admitted with humorous dryness. + +Foster pondered. On the whole, he was glad he had registered in his +proper name, though he had been tempted to give Featherstone's, in case +Daly made inquiries. He had, however, decided that the latter probably +thought they were both in Great Britain and would expect them to keep +together. He did not doubt that his visitor belonged to the police, +because an impostor would be easily found out. + +"Featherstone's my partner and I took his baggage by mistake when we +left a small Canadian town," he said, and added after a pause: "I +expect the explanation sounds rather lame." + +The other smiled, but Foster felt he was being subjected to a very +close scrutiny. Although sensible of some annoyance, he felt inclined +to like the man, who presently resumed: "You have been in Edinburgh +before." + +"For a day; I left in the evening and went to Newcastle." + +"To Newcastle?" said the other thoughtfully. "Did you stay there?" + +"I did not," said Foster, thinking frankness was best. "I went back to +a country house in Northumberland that belongs to my partner's father. +Lawrence Featherstone and I own a sawmill in Canada, but at present I'm +taking a holiday in the Old Country." + +He could not tell if the man was satisfied or not, for he asked +abruptly: "Who is the Mr. Daly you mentioned?" + +"I really don't know. It looks as if he were something of a +blackmailer, and I must admit that I was trying to keep out of his way." + +The man pondered for a minute, and then getting up gave Foster a card. + +"Very well; I don't think I need keep you. You have my address if you +should want to communicate with me." + +He went out and Foster thought he had not handled the situation with +much skill. It was a mistake to mention Daly and perhaps to state that +he had been to Newcastle. He thought the man looked interested when he +heard this. Then it was curious that he seemed to imagine Foster might +want to write to him; but he began to see a possible reason for his +being watched. Hulton had, no doubt, sent somebody over to inquire +about the stolen bonds, and if the man had discovered anything +important, he might have asked the help of the police. In this case, +the movements of strangers from Canada would be noted. The trouble was +that Foster could not be frank with the police, because Lawrence's +secret must be carefully guarded. + +In the afternoon he entered a fashionable tea-room and sat for a time +in a corner. The room was divided into quiet nooks by Moorish arches, +from which lamps of an antique pattern hung by chains and threw down a +soft red glow. Heavy imitation Eastern curtains deadened the hum of +voices and rattle of cups. The air was warm and scented, the light +dim, and Foster, who had often camped in the snow, felt amused by the +affectation of sensual luxury as he ate iced cakes and languidly +watched the people. He could only see two or three men, one of whom he +had noticed at the hotel and afterwards passed in the street. This was +probably a coincidence, but it might have a meaning, and he moved back +behind the arch that cut off his corner. When he next looked about, +the fellow had gone. There were, however, a number of pretty, +fashionably-dressed girls, and he remarked the warm color in their +faces and the clearness of their voices. The Scottish capital seemed +to be inhabited by handsome women. + +He was, however, somewhat surprised when one came towards him and he +recognized the girl he had met at Hawick station. He had hardly +expected her to claim his acquaintance, as she obviously meant to do. + +"You seem to be fond of Edinburgh," she remarked, sitting down at his +table. + +"It's an interesting city. I'm a stranger and ignorant of your +etiquette; but would I be permitted to send for some cakes and tea?" + +"I think not," she answered, smiling. "For one thing, I must go in a +minute." + +Foster waited. The girl had good manners, and he thought it unlikely +that she was willing to begin a flirtation with a man she did not know; +besides she had stopped him sending for the tea. She was pretty, and +had a certain air of refinement, but it was a dainty prettiness that +somehow harmonized with the exotic luxury of the room. This was a +different thing from Alice Featherstone's rather stately beauty, which +found an appropriate background in the dignified austerity of the Garth. + +"Are you enjoying your stay here?" she resumed. "I begin to think I've +had enough. The climate's not very cheerful, and the people seem +suspicious about strangers." + +"The Scots are proverbially cautious," she answered carelessly, but +Foster thought he saw a gleam of interest in her eyes. "I suppose +somebody has been bothering you with questions?" + +"Yes; as I'm of a retiring character, it annoys me. Besides, I really +think it's quite unjustified. Do I look dangerous?" + +"No," she said with a twinkle, "if you did, I shouldn't have ventured +to speak to you. On the contrary, you have a candid air that ought to +banish distrust. Of course, I don't know if it's deceptive." + +"You have to know people for some time before you understand them, but, +on the whole, I imagine I'm harmless," Foster replied. "That's what +makes it galling. If I had, for example, a part in some dark plot, I +couldn't resent being watched. As it happens, I merely want to get as +much innocent pleasure as possible out of a holiday, and feel vexed +when people won't let me." + +The girl gave him a quick, searching look, and then said carelessly, +"One can sympathize with you; it is annoying to be watched. But after +all, Edinburgh's rather dull just now, and the cold winds are trying to +strangers." + +"Is this a hint that I ought to go away?" + +"Do you take hints?" she asked with a smile. "Somehow I imagine you're +rather an obstinate man. I suppose you took the packet to Newcastle?" + +"I did," Foster admitted in an apologetic voice. "You see, I promised +to deliver the thing." + +"And, of course, you kept your word! Well, that was very nice of you, +but I wouldn't make any rash promises while you stay in this country. +Sometimes they lead one into difficulties. But I must go." + +She left him with a friendly smile, and he sat down again in a +thoughtful mood. It looked as if she had had an object in talking to +him, and she had learned that he had gone to Newcastle and had since +been watched. He gathered that she thought the things had some +connection, though her remarks were guarded. Then she had given him +another hint, which he meant to act upon. + +Leaving the tea-room, he walked for a short distance and then stopped +on the pavement in Princes Street and looked about. It was dark, but a +biting wind had cleared the air. At one end of the imposing street a +confused glimmer marked the neighborhood of the Caledonian station, and +when one looked the other way a long row of lights ran on, and then +curving round and rising sharply, ended in a cluster of twinkling +points high against the sky. The dark, blurred mass they gathered +round was the Castle rock, and below it the tall spire of the Scott +monument was faintly etched against the shadowy hollow where the +gardens sloped away. + +Now he had resolved to leave the city, Foster felt its charm and half +resented being, in a manner, forced to go, but walked on, musing on the +way women had recently meddled with his affairs. To begin with, Carmen +had given him the troublesome packet, then it was largely for Alice +Featherstone's sake he had embarked on a fresh adventure, and now the +girl in the tea-room had warned him to leave the town. It was a +privilege to help Alice, but the others' interference was, so to speak, +superfluous. A man could devote himself to pleasing one woman, but one +was enough. + +After a few minutes he stopped and looked into a shop window as a man +passed a neighboring lamp. It was Daly and the fellow moved slowly, +although Foster did not think he had seen him yet. He would know very +soon and for a moment or two he felt his heart beat, but when he looked +round Daly had passed. Foster followed and saw him enter the tea-room. +This was disturbing, although Foster remembered that he had told nobody +he was going there. He decided to leave Edinburgh as soon as he could +next morning and bought a map of southern Scotland on his way back to +the hotel. + +After dinner, he sat down in the smoking-room near a man to whom he had +once or twice spoken. The latter was a red-faced, keen-eyed old +fellow, and looked like a small country laird. + +"I've come over to see Scotland and have been long enough in the +capital," he said. "After all, you can't judge a country by its towns. +What would you advise?" + +"It depends upon what ye want to see?" the man replied. + +"I think I'd like the moors and hills. I get enough of industrial +activity in Ontario, and would sooner hear the grouse and the +black-cock than shipyard hammers. Then I'd prefer to take my time and +go on foot." + +His companion nodded approval. "Ye have sense. Are ye a good walker?" + +"I have walked three hundred miles through pretty rough country and +dragged my belongings on a hand-sledge." + +"Then I think I can tell ye how to see rugged Scotland, for the country +has two different sides. Ye can take your choice, but ye cannot see +both at once. I could send ye by main roads, where the tourists' +motors run, to the show-places, where ye would stay at smart hotels, +with Swiss and London waiters, and learn as much o' Scottish character +as ye would in Lucerne or the Strand." + +"I don't think that is quite what I want. Besides, I haven't much time +and would sooner keep to the south." + +"Then ye'll take the high ground and go by tracks the moss-troopers +rode, winding up the waters and among the fells, where there's only +cothouse clachans and lonely farm-towns. Ye'll see there why the old +Scottish stock grows firm and strong and the bit, bleak country breeds +men who make it respected across the world. Man, if I had not +rheumatism and some fashious business I cannot neglect, we would take +the moors together!" + +"You don't seem to like the smart hotels," Foster remarked, half amused. + +"I do not like the folk they harbor. The dusty trippers in leather +coats and goggles ye meet at Melrose and Jedburgh are an affront to an +old Scottish town. But a man on foot, in clothes that match the ling +and the gray bents, gives a human touch to the scene, whether ye meet +him by a wind-ruffled lochan or on the broad moor. Ye ken he has come +slowly through the quiet hills, for the love o' what he sees. But ye +will not understand an old man's havering!" + +"I think I do," said Foster. "One learns the charm of the lone trail +in the Canadian bush. But I have a map, and don't care much where I +go, so long as it's somewhere south. Suppose you mark me out a route +towards Liddesdale." + +The man did so, and jotted down a few marginal notes. + +"I'm sending ye by the old drove roads," he explained. "Sometimes +ye'll find them plain enough, but often they're rough green tracks, and +nobody can tell ye when they were made. The moss-troopers wore them +deeper when they rode with the spear and steel-cap to Solway sands. +Afterwards came the drovers with their flocks and herds, the smugglers' +pack-horse trains, and messengers to Prince Charlie's friends from +Louis of France. That's why the old road runs across the fell, while +the turnpike keeps the valley. If ye follow my directions, ye'll maybe +find the link between industrial Scotland and the stormy past; it's in +the cothouse and clachan the race is bred that made and keeps alive +Glasgow and Dundee." + +Foster thanked him and examined the map. It was clearly drawn and +showed the height and natural features of the country, which was +obviously rough. The path marked out led over the Border hills, dipped +into winding valleys, and skirted moorland lakes. It seemed to draw +him as he studied it, for the wilderness has charm, and the drove road +ran through heathy wastes far from the smoke of factories and mining +towns. Well, he was ready to cross the bleak uplands, without +troubling much about the mist and rain, for he had faced worse winters +than any Scotland knew, but he reflected with grim amusement that Daly +would find the traveling rough if he got on his trail. + +There were, however, some things he needed for the journey, and he went +out to buy them while the shops were open. Next morning he gave +instructions that letters for himself and Lawrence should be sent to +Peebles, and when the clerk objected that he could not forward +Featherstone's without the latter's orders, said it did not matter. He +had left a clew for Daly, which was all he wanted, but, in order to +make it plainer, he sent the porter to the station with the bag and +told him to wait by the Peebles train. Then he set off, dressed in the +oldest clothes he had, wondering what adventures he would meet with in +the wilds. + + + + +XI + +THE POACHERS + +Foster left Peebles soon after his arrival and following the Tweed down +stream to Traquair turned south across the hills. A road brought him +to Yarrow, where he sat down to smoke in the shelter of a stone dyke by +the waterside. He had no reason to believe that he was followed, and +there were two good hotels beside St. Mary's loch, which was not far +off. But Foster did not mean to stay at good hotels and knew that Daly +would not have much trouble in reaching St. Mary's in a car if he +arrived at Peebles by a later train. It would then be difficult to +keep out of his way, and if he found Foster alone, he would, no doubt, +go back to look for Lawrence at the Garth. Taking this for granted, +Foster thought it better to put Ettrick Forest between himself and +possible pursuit. + +It looked a lonely region on the map, and when he glanced south the +hills loomed, dark and forbidding, through thin gray mist. Pools of +water dotted the marish fields, and beyond these lay a wet, brown moss +where wild cotton grew among the peat-hags. Plover were crying about +the waste and a curlew's shrill tremolo rang out as it flitted across +the leaden sky. The outlook was not encouraging, but Foster picked his +way across the bog and struck up the side of a fell. There was a road, +but it would take him some distance round. + +Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches +where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts +of withered heath. Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry +twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but +he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made. Still +Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south. +Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he +took shelter behind a broken dyke. The rain got worse and the moor was +lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse +sound in the haze below. He thought this was the roar of Ettrick or a +fall on a moorland burn that would lead him down. + +When he began to feel cold he set off again, and the rain, which +thinned as he went down hill, stopped altogether when he reached the +bottom. A road ran beside the angry water, but the valley was deeply +sunk in the dark fells and their summits were hidden by drifting mist. +There was no hint of life in the dreary landscape except a moving patch +that looked like a flock of sheep, and a glance at the map showed that +his path led on across the waste to the south. It would be a long +march to Hawick, which was the town he meant to reach, particularly if +he went up the valley, until he found a road, but his director had +indicated a clachan as his stopping-place. He understood that a +clachan meant a hamlet, and the old fellow had said he would find rough +but sufficient accommodation in what he called a change-house. It +would be awkward if he lost the way, but this must be risked, and +crossing the river he struck into the hills. + +He found a rough track, and presently the sky began to clear. +Pale-blue patches opened in the thinning clouds, and gleams of +sunshine, chased by shadow, touched the moor. Where they fell the +brown heath turned red and withered fern glowed fiery yellow. The +green road, cropped smooth by sheep and crossed by rills of water, +swung sharply up and down, but at length it began a steady descent, and +about four o'clock in the afternoon Foster stopped in the bottom of a +deep glen. + +A few rushy fields occupied the hollow and a house stood in the shelter +of a thin fir wood. It had mullioned windows and a porch with pillars, +but looked old, and the walls were speckled with lichens. A garden +stretched about it, and looking in through the iron rails, Foster saw +gnarled fruit trees fringed with moss. Their branches cut against a +patch of saffron sky, and a faint warm glow touched the front of the +building. There was a low window at its nearer end and Foster saw a +woman sewing by the fire. + +The house had a strangely homelike look after the barren moors, and +Foster, feeling tired and cold, longed to ask for shelter. Had it been +a farm, he might have done so, but he thought it belonged to some +country laird and resumed his march. He never saw the house again, but +remembered it now and then, as he had seen it with the fading light +that shone through the old apple trees touching its lichened wall. + +The road led upwards and he stopped for breath at the summit. The glen +was now shut in and the light going, but here and there in the distance +a loch reflected a pale gleam. A half-moon shone above the hills and +the silver light got brighter as he went on. The wind had fallen and +the silence was emphasized by the faint splash of water. After a time, +he came down to lower ground where broken dykes divided straggling +fields, but there was no sign of life until as he turned a corner an +indistinct figure vanished among the dry fern in the shadow of a wall. +Foster thought this curious, particularly when he passed the spot and +saw nobody there, but there was an opening in the dyke for the sheep to +go through. + +A little farther on, the road ran across a field, and when he was near +the middle he saw something move behind a gorse bush. Although it +looked like a man's head, he did not stop. Going on, as if he had seen +nothing, until he was close to the gorse, he left the track and walked +swiftly but softly across the grass. When he reached the bush a man +who had been crouching behind it sprang to his feet. He was tall and +roughly dressed, and looked like a shepherd or farm-hand. + +"Weel," he said with a truculent air, "what is it ye want with me?" + +The question somewhat relieved Foster, who now noted the end of a long, +thin net in the grass. + +"I was curious to see what you were doing. Then I meant to ask the way +to Langsyke." + +"What are ye wanting there?" + +"To stay the night. I was directed to a change-house where they'd take +me in." + +"They might. Ye're a stranger, and ye'll tak' the road again the morn?" + +Foster said he meant to do so and the other pondered. + +"Weel, there's a soft flow where ye might get mired if ye left the +road, which is no' that plain, and I could set ye on the way, but +there's a bit job I'll hae to finish first." He paused and added with +a grin as he indicated the net: "Maybe ye hae a notion what it is." + +"I imagine it's connected with somebody else's grouse or partridges, +but that's not my business. You'll be a shilling or two richer if you +show me the way." + +"Then the sooner I'm finished here, the sooner we'll be off, though I +doot we hae fleyt the paltrig. Bide ye by the whinns, and when ye see +me at the dyke come forrad with the net. If I lift my airm, ye'll +stop." + +He went off with the end of the net, and Foster waited, half amused. +The fellow probably wanted to ensure his saying nothing about the +poaching by making him an accomplice, but this did not matter much. It +was an adventure and he was anxious to find a guide. By the way the +net unwound and slipped across the grass he thought there was another +man at work, but he carried his part forward as he had been told and +then dropped it and sat down among some rushes. Two indistinct figures +were moving towards each other and he got up presently when one +signaled. When he joined them a number of small dark objects showed +through the net. + +"Hae!" said a man who opened the meshes, and added when Foster picked +up two limp birds: "We've no' done so bad." + +Then Foster remembered the man he had seen as he came along the road. + +"How many of you are in the gang?" he asked. + +"There's twa o' us her. I'm thinking that's a' ye need ken." + +"It's what I meant," said Foster apologetically. "Still I passed +another fellow hiding, a short distance back." + +The men, saying nothing, took out the birds and began to roll up the +net. Foster had now four partridges, which they seemed to expect him +to carry, and was putting their legs together so as to hold them +conveniently when he heard a rattle of stones. Then a dark figure +leaped down from the wall and somebody shouted: "Stand where ye are or +I'll put a chairge o' number four in ye!" + +A leveled gun twinkled in the moonlight, and for a moment Foster +hesitated. He hardly thought the man would shoot, and it would be +awkward if he was arrested with the partridges in his hand. Springing +suddenly forward, he struck, from below upwards, with his stick. There +was a flash and a report, but he felt himself unharmed and brought the +stick down upon the gamekeeper's head. He heard the gun drop, and then +turned and, keeping in the shadow of the wall, ran across the field. +When he was near the opposite end, he saw another man waiting to cut +him off, and seizing the top of the dyke swung himself over. He came +down among withered fern and ran back behind the wall towards the spot +where he had left his first antagonist, until he struck a small, +winding hollow through which water flowed. This seemed to offer a good +hiding-place, but Foster knew better, although he followed it for a +short distance. One can often hide best in the open and it was prudent +to avoid the obvious line of search. Creeping out of the hollow, he +made for a clump of rushes and felt satisfied when he lay down behind +it. His waterproof and cap were gray, and his pursuers would have to +search all the field before they found him, unless they were lucky. + +After a few minutes, he saw them, but while one plunged into the +hollow, the other sat on top of the wall. This seemed to be the fellow +he had struck, and Foster was relieved to see he was not badly hurt. +The man, however, occupied a commanding position, because Foster's +chance of remaining unseen depended largely on the searcher's height +above the ground. He knew from experience gained in hunting that a +very small object will hide a man so long as the line of sight he must +avoid is nearly horizontal, but the fellow on the wall could see over +the rushes. In consequence, immobility was his only resource, and he +very cautiously turned his head enough to enable him to see. + +The gamekeeper who had entered the hollow presently came back into the +field and began to walk methodically up and down, and Foster regretted +his rashness in helping with the net. The poachers had vanished, but +the others seemed to know there was somebody about, and since they were +gamekeepers would be hard to deceive. His cover was not good, and +although he might have changed his place when the fellow in the field +was farthest away, he feared that a movement would betray him to the +other on the wall. + +In the meantime, the chill of the wet soil crept through his mackintosh +and his hands got numbed. He thrust them into the mossy grass for fear +they should show in the moonlight, and buried his face in the rushes, +which prickled his skin. He could, with some trouble, see through the +clump and anxiously watched the fellow who came steadily nearer. Now +and then he turned aside to examine a whinn bush, and Foster saw that +he had acted wisely when he dropped behind the rushes. Had he chosen a +prominent object for cover, he would have been caught. + +At length, the searcher crossed the field on a line that would bring +him close to where Foster lay, and the latter let his face sink lower +and tried to check his breathing. He durst not look about, but heard +the man's heavy boots splash in the boggy grass, until the fellow +suddenly stopped. Foster thought he had seen him, but did not move. +In the Northwest, he had now and then caught a jack-rabbit by carefully +marking its hiding-place, but had not seen it afterwards until he +nearly trod upon the crouching animal. It was comforting to remember +that his pursuers had not watched him drop behind the rushes. + +"Hae ye seen aught, Jock?" the keeper near him called, and Foster was +conscious of keen relief. + +"Naething ava," answered the other. "If he went doon the burn, he's +no' come oot." + +"He's no' there; ye would ha' seen him if he'd headed back." + +There was silence for a moment or two and Foster heard the water bubble +in the moss as the man moved his foot. The fellow would tread upon him +if he took a few steps in the right direction, but his mackintosh was +much the color of the withered grass and his face and hands were hidden. + +Then the man on the wall remarked in a thoughtful tone: "I'm no' quite +sure he went ower the dyke. Ye see, I was kin' o' staggered by the +clout on the head, and he might ha' slippit oot by the gate." + +"It will be Lang Pate, of course." + +"Just him," agreed the other. "He was near enough to reach me with his +stick and the light no' that bad. Besides, wha' else would it be?" + +Foster, seeing that he had escaped notice, felt amused. Long Pete was +suspected and therefore judged guilty; the keeper's last argument +banished doubt. + +"My heid's sair," the man resumed. "We'll look if they've gone doon +the glen, and then tak' the road if ye'll row up the net." + +The other crossed the field and Foster lay still until he heard him +climb the wall and afterwards made for a hole that led into the road. +Somewhat to his surprise, he found that he had brought the partridges. +He followed the road quietly, keeping in the shadow of a dyke, although +he thought the gamekeepers had gone the other way, and on turning a +corner came upon the poachers lurking behind a thorn bush. + +"We thought they had caught ye," one remarked. + +"I suppose you were anxious about it, because you were afraid I might +put them on your track." + +"I canna say ye're altogether wrang, but whaur are they the noo?" + +"Looking for you in the glen, I believe. But which of you is Long +Pete?" + +The man he had met first said it was his name, and Foster resumed: +"Then I imagine the fellow with the gun means to declare that you +struck him." + +"He would!" Pete remarked, grinning. "Weel, it's lucky I hae twa three +friends wha'll show that I couldna' ha' been near the spot just then. +But we'll need to hurry." + +"I think I understand," said Foster, who went on with them. "Still you +can't save much time, even if you walk very fast." + +"Verra true," Pete replied. "But it's no' difficult to pit back the +clock." + +Leaving the road presently, they struck across a bog that got softer as +they advanced until Foster felt the rotten turf tremble beneath his +feet. All round were clumps of rushes, patches of smooth but +treacherous moss, and holes where water glimmered in the moonlight. He +imagined it was a dangerous place for a stranger to cross, but his +companions knew the way, and although he sank to the top of his boots +they reached firmer ground. Soon afterwards, Pete showed him a rough +track that crossed the side of a hill. + +"Yon's your road and ye'll see the clachan in aboot a mile. If they're +no' verra willing to tak' ye in, ye can tell them ye're a freend o' +mine." + +Foster thanked him and followed the track, which led him to a hollow +where lights shone among a clump of bare ash trees. A few low, white +houses straggled along the roadside, and he thought one that was +somewhat larger and had dormer windows was the change-house. When he +knocked he was shown into an untidy kitchen where two men sat drinking +by a peat fire. At first, the landlord seemed doubtful about being +able to find room for him, but his manner changed when Foster +carelessly mentioned that he understood from Pete that he would be +welcome, and one of the others gave him a keen glance. + +"Where met ye Pate?" he asked. + +"On the hill," said Foster, who felt sure of his ground. "I helped him +with the net." + +"Had he any luck?" + +"Not much," said Foster. "Two gamekeepers turned up and although we +got a few partridges Pete lost his net." + +There was silence for a moment, and then another remarked: "I wouldna' +say but we ken enough. We hae helpit Pate oot before, and a change is +lightsome. He can gang till the moss-side folk noo." + +They let the matter drop, but Foster was given a better supper than he +expected and afterwards a bed in a cupboard fixed to the kitchen wall. + + + + +XII + +A COMPLICATION + +At noon next day Foster sat, smoking, on a bridge near the clachan. +The air was mild and sunshine filled the hollow, while Foster had just +dined upon some very appetizing broth. The broth was thick with +vegetables, but he did not think the meat in it came from a barn-door +fowl. The clachan was a poor and untidy place, but he was tired, and +as the gamekeepers would not suspect a neatly-dressed stranger, had +thought of stopping another night. When he had nearly finished his +pipe. Long Pete came up. Foster, who had only seen him in the +moonlight, now noted that he had a rather frank brown face and a +twinkling smile. + +"Ye'll be for Hawick?" he remarked. + +Foster said he was going there and Pete resumed in a meaning tone: +"It's a grand day for the road and ye could be in Hawick soon after +it's dark." + +"Just so," said Foster, who could take a hint. "But is there any +reason I should start this afternoon?" + +"Ye should ken. I was across the muir in the morning and found a +polisman frae Yarrow at Watty Bell's. He'd come ower the hills on his +bicycle and was asking if they'd seen a stranger wi' a glove on his +left han'." + +Foster made a little abrupt movement that he thought the other noted, +but said carelessly, "The fellow must have had a rough trip." + +"A road gangs roon' up the waterside, though I wouldna' say it's very +good. I'm thinking he made an early start and would wait for dinner +with Watty. Then ye might give him twa 'oors to get here." + +Foster looked at his watch and pondered. He was beginning to +understand Scottish tact and saw that Pete meant to give him a friendly +warning. It was obvious that the policeman would not have set off +across the hills in the dark of a winter morning unless he had been +ordered to make inquiries. Moreover, since the gamekeepers had +mistaken Foster for Pete, the orders had nothing to do with the +poaching. + +"Perhaps I had better pull out," he said. "But the fellow won't have +much trouble in learning which way I've gone." + +"I'm no' sure o' that. There's a road o' a sort rins west to Annandale +and Lockerbie." + +"But I'm not going west." + +"Weel," said Pete, "ye might start that way, and I would meet ye where +a sheep track rins back up the glen--ye'll ken it by the broken dyke +where ye cross the burn. Then I would set ye on the road to Hawick +ower the hill." + +"Thanks," said Foster thoughtfully. "I suppose I ought to let the +folks at the inn know I've gone towards Annandale, so they can tell the +policeman?" + +Pete's eyes twinkled. "It might be better if they didna' exactly tell +him, but let him find it oot; but I'll see tae that. Polisman Jock is +noo and then rather shairp." + +Ten minutes later, Foster left the inn and set off across the moor. +The heath shone red, and here and there little pools, round which white +stones lay in the dark peat, flashed in the sunshine. The pale-blue of +the sky changed near the horizon to delicate green, and a soft breeze +blew across the waste. Foster enjoyed the walk, although he was +puzzled and somewhat disturbed. If inquiries had been made about +Featherstone, he could have understood it, but the police were asking +for a man with a glove on his left hand, which could only apply to him. +Daly, of course, would be glad to get him out of the way, if he had +learned that he was in Scotland, but the police could not arrest a man +who had done nothing wrong. + +Foster now regretted that he had helped the poachers, although he +thought he had made friends who would not betray him and might be +useful. He had met Border Scots in Ontario, and knew something about +their character. They were marked by a stern independence, inherited +from their moss-trooper ancestors, and he thought Pete was a typical +specimen of the virile race. The man met him at the broken dyke, and +leaving the road they turned east up the side of a sparkling burn. + +The narrow strip of level ground was wet and covered with moss, in +which their feet sank, but the hillside was too steep to walk along. +It ran up, a slope of gray-white grass, to the ragged summit where the +peat was gashed and torn. Here and there a stunted thorn tree grew in +a hollow, but the glen was savagely desolate, and Foster, glancing at +his companion, thought he understood why the men who wrung a living +from these barren hills prospered when they came out to the rich +wheat-soil of Canada. The Flowers of the Forest, who fell at Flodden, +locking fast the Scottish square against the onslaught of England's +finest cavalry, were bred in these wilds, and had left descendants +marked by their dour stubbornness. Pete's hair was turning gray and +his brown face was deeply lined, but he crossed the quaking moss with a +young man's stride, and Foster thought his mouth could set hard as +granite in spite of his twinkling smile. He was a man who would forget +neither a favor nor an injury, and Foster was glad to feel that he was +on his side. + +At the head of the glen they climbed a long grassy slope and came to a +tableland where the peat was torn into great black rifts and piled in +hummocks. This was apparently Nature's work, but Foster could not see +how the storms that burst upon the hills could have worked such havoc. +Crossing the rugged waste to a distant cairn, they sat down upon the +stones, and Pete filled his pipe from Foster's pouch. + +"Ye'll haud east until ye find a burn that will lead ye doon to the +road; then as ye cross the breist o' a fell ye'll see the reek o' +Hawick," he said and added after a pause: "Maybe ye'll no' be stopping +in the town?" + +"I'll stay the night. After that, I think I'll take the hills again. +I'm going south towards Liddesdale, but I expect that's out of your +beat." + +Pete smiled. "There's maist to be done in my regular line this side o' +Hawick. Buccleugh looks after his hares and paltrigs weel, and his +marches rin wide across the country from Teviot to Liddel. But I hae +freends a' the way to the North Tyne, and there's no' many sheep sales +I do not attend. If ye're wanting them, I could give ye a few +directions that might help ye on the road." + +Foster thanked him and listened carefully. It looked as if the +poachers, who seemed to work now and then as honest drovers, knew each +other well and combined for mutual protection. It might be useful to +be made an honorary member of the gang. + +"Weel," his companion concluded, "if ye stop at the inns I've told ye +o', ye'll find folks who can haud a quiet tongue, and if ye see ony +reason for it, ye can say ye're a freend o' mine." + +Foster rather diffidently offered him some money, but was not surprised +when the man refused the gift. Indeed, he felt that it would have +jarred him had Pete taken it. The latter gave him his hand with a +smile and turned back to the glen while Foster pushed on across the +heath. He reflected with some amusement that Pete probably thought him +a fugitive from the law. + +After a time he stopped to look about. His view commanded a horizon of +two or three miles, for he seemed to be near the center of the +tableland. Its surface was broken by the hummocks and hollows of the +peat, and tufts of white wild cotton relieved the blackness of the +gashes in the soil. Sheep fed in the distance, and he heard the harsh +cry of a grouse that skimmed the heath. The skyline was clear, and by +and by two sharp but distant figures cut against it. + +Foster's first impulse was to drop into the ling, but he did not. If +the men were following him, it would take them half an hour to reach +the spot he occupied and, if necessary, the roughness of the ground +would enable him to reach the edge of the moor without their seeing +which way he went. Besides, since he would be visible as long as he +stood up, he could find out whether they were looking for him or not. +They came nearer and then vanished, and he sat down and speculated +about his line of retreat. Their disappearance was suspicious, and +although he thought he could baffle the rural police, it would be +different if he had gamekeepers to deal with. + +By and by the men reappeared, but as they did not seem anxious to cover +their movements he felt relieved. It was possible that they had come +to mend a fence or look for some sheep. For all that, he drew back +among the hummocks, and looked for hollows where he would have a +background for his figure as he resumed his march. He saw no more of +the men and by and by came to a burn, which he followed to lower +ground, where he found the road Pete had told him about. + +It led him up and down hill, and now and then the track was faint, +while when he crossed the last ridge the light was fading. Motionless +gray clouds stretched across the sky, which glimmered with pale saffron +in the west. Rounded hills, stained a deep blue, cut against the +light, and a trail of gauzy vapor hung about a distant hollow. Since +there was no mist on the moors, he knew it was the smoke of Hawick +mills. + +As he went down, stone dykes began to straggle up the hill. The fields +they enclosed were rushy and dotted with whinns, but they got smoother +and presently he came to stubble and belts of plowing. Then he turned +into a good road and saw rows of lights that got gradually brighter in +the valley ahead. It had been dark some time when he entered Hawick, +and the damp air was filled with a thin, smoky haze. Factory windows +glimmered in the haze and tall chimneys loomed above the houses. The +bustle of the town fell pleasantly but strangely on his ears after the +silence of the moors. + +Reaching a hotel that looked comfortable, he went in, ordered dinner, +and provisionally booked a room, though he did not register and +explained that he could not tell yet if he would stay all night. Then, +leaving his knapsack, he went into the street and stopped by a bridge +where three roads met. A guide-post indicated that one led to Selkirk, +and the map had shown Foster that this was the way to Peebles and +Yarrow. Another ran up the waterside to Langholm and the south. + +Foster lighted a cigarette and drawing his maimed hand into the sleeve +of his mackintosh, leaned against the side of the bridge and watched +the Selkirk road. It was not cold and the street was well lighted by +the windows of the shops. Briskly moving people streamed across the +bridge, as if the factory hands were going home from work, but nobody +seemed interested in Foster and the policeman who stood by the +guide-post paid him no attention. He thought about going back to the +hotel when a car, traveling rather fast, came down the road and pulled +up close by. + +Foster leaned quietly against the bridge and did not turn his head, but +saw Daly sitting beside the driver; the half-dried mud that was thickly +crusted about the car indicated a long journey. An abrupt movement +might be dangerous, although he did not think Daly expected to find him +or Featherstone calmly lounging about the street. The driver beckoned +the policeman and Foster heard him ask if one crossed the bridge for +Langholm. + +The man told him to turn to the right, and after speaking to the driver +Daly asked if there was a garage and a good hotel near. The policeman +gave him some directions, and when the car turned round and rolled away +Foster followed. He passed close by the policeman and, taking +advantage of the sociable Scottish custom, nodded and remarked that it +was a fine night. The man answered civilly, with a careless glance at +Foster, who went on, feeling satisfied with his experiment. It was +obvious that no inquiries about him had been telegraphed to Hawick and +he had only Daly to deal with. This was curious, if the police were +really anxious to find him. + +The garage was open and Foster asked a man if he could hire a motor +bicycle. The fellow said he thought so, but the manager was out, and +Foster strolled about the room. Daly's driver was refilling the lamps +with carbide, and when he finished asked for petrol. + +"Ye're for the road again," the man who brought the tin remarked. + +"For Langholm," replied the driver. "I don't expect we'll go farther +to-night, but I must have things ready if the boss wants to go on." + +Foster hoped the other would ask where they had come from, but he did +not do so, and next moment Daly walked down some steps at the other end +of the room. Knowing that a quick retreat might betray him, Foster +stood still and examined a lamp he picked up. Daly crossed the floor, +passing within a yard or two. + +"You can fix her all right, I suppose?" he said to the driver. + +The latter said something about a sparking-plug, and when Daly stooped +over the engine the light of a lamp shone into his face. He was a big, +handsome man, but Foster, studying him closely, noted his hard and +greedy eyes. For a moment, he came near forgetting the need for +caution and giving way to a fit of rage. The fellow had it in his +power to bring disgrace upon upright people and drag an honored name in +the mire. He could humble Alice Featherstone's pride and ruin the +brother she loved. + +Lawrence had done wrong, but had paid for it and made good in Canada, +and now the rogue who had learned his secret would drag him down, or, +as the price of silence, bring his relatives to poverty. Foster felt +that Daly was not the man to be merciful when there was an advantage to +be got; one saw a sinister hint of cruelty in his coarsely-handsome +face. It would have been a relief to provoke the fellow and throw him +out of the garage, but Foster knew he must deny himself this +satisfaction, since it would make things worse for those he meant to +shield. He did not remember having felt so full of primitive +savageness before, but he exercised his self-control. + +Standing in the shadow, he turned his head, looking down at the lamp he +began to take to pieces, and presently Daly said to the driver, "You +had better get some food; I'll want you soon." + +Then he came back and passing close enough to touch Foster, went up the +steps and through a door. Foster put down the lamp and strolled out of +the garage. He found dinner ready at his hotel and when he had +finished went to the smoking-room, which was opposite the office. He +left the door open and by and by heard a man enter the hall and stop at +the counter. + +"Have you an American called Franklin here?" he asked and Foster smiled +as he recognized Daly's voice. + +He had half-expected the visit, and the inquiry was cleverly framed. +Daly had not asked about a Canadian, because the accent of Western +Canada is that of the United States, and Franklin resembled +Featherstone enough to prompt the girl clerk to mention the latter if +he were a guest. For all that, Daly was ignorant of the Scottish +character, because the Scot seldom offers information that is not +demanded. + +"No," she said, "we have no American staying with us." + +Foster thought Daly opened the visitors' book, which lay on the +counter, but as he had not yet entered his name, there was nothing to +be learned from it. Still Daly might come into the smoking-room, and +he picked up the _Scotsman_ and leaning back in his chair held up the +newspaper to hide his face. After a few moments, Daly said, "I don't +know anybody here; it looks as if my friends aren't in the town." + +Then he went along the hall, and when the door shut Foster put down the +newspaper and began to think. He imagined that Daly hardly expected to +find Featherstone in Hawick, but it was curious that he was going to +Langholm, which was on the best road to Lockerbie in Annandale. It was +the police Foster had tried to put off the track at the clachan by +striking west across the moors, and he did not think Daly had anything +to do with them. He could see no light on the matter, but when he went +back to the garage it was something of a relief to find the car had +gone. + + + + +XIII + +FOSTER RETURNS TO THE GARTH + +After breakfast next morning Foster asked the hotel porter to take his +knapsack to the station and get him a ticket to Carlisle. He must +leave a clew for Daly, who might come back to Hawick when he failed to +find him in Annandale but would be badly puzzled if he went to +Carlisle, because it was an important railway center, where one would +have a choice of several different routes. This would give Foster a +few quiet days, after which he must think of a way of inducing Daly to +resume the chase. The latter probably thought he was following +Lawrence, and if he did not, no doubt concluded that Foster was working +in concert with him, and to find one would help him to deal with the +other. + +It was a dark morning and the smoke of the woolen factories hung about +the town. A few lights burned in the station, but the building was +gloomy and Foster had some trouble in finding the porter among the +waiting passengers. Soon after he did so, the train came in and the +man hurried along the platform, looking into the carriages. + +"Ye wanted a corridor, sir," he said as he opened a door. + +Foster got in and stood at the window until the porter went away. +People were running up and down looking for places, but he had no time +to lose. Opening the door on the opposite side, he went along the +corridor and stood for a moment on the step at the other end of the +carriage. He could not see the porter, and when two or three +passengers ran up got down from the step. Next moment the whistle +blew, the engine snorted, and the train rolled out of the station. + +As none of the porters spoke to him, Foster thought he had managed the +thing neatly and made it look as if he had come to see somebody off +instead of having been left behind. For all that, he waited a minute +or two, studying a time-table, to avoid the risk of overtaking the +hotel porter; and then made his way by back streets out of the town. +For some miles, the road he took ran south up a well-cultivated valley, +past turnip and stubble fields and smooth pasture; and then changed to +a rough stony track that climbed a hill. + +A turn shut in the valley when he reached higher ground, and a long +stretch of moor rolled away ahead. Foster thought these sharp +transitions from intensive cultivation to the sterile wilds were +characteristic of southern Scotland. It had rained since he left +Hawick, but now the sun shone down between the clouds and bright gleams +and flying shadows chased each other across the waste. To the south +the sky was clear and shone with a lemon-yellow glow, against which the +rounded hills rose, delicately gray. In one place there was a gap that +Foster thought was Liddesdale, and his path led across the latter +towards the head of Tyne. Not a house broke the sweep of withered +grass and heath, and only the crying of plover that circled in the +distance disturbed the silence. + +Foster liked the open trail and went on with a light step, until as he +crossed the watershed and the country sloped to the south, he came to a +wire fence and saw the black mouth of a railway tunnel beneath. It was +now about two o'clock, and feeling hungry, he sat down where a bank cut +off the wind, and took out some food he had bought at Hawick. He did +not know if he found the shining rails and row of telegraph posts that +curved away down the hillside out of place, but somehow they made him +feel foolishly unconventional. His boots and mackintosh were wet, he +was lunching on sweet biscuits and gingerbread, and did not know where +he would spend the night, although it would not be at a comfortable +hotel. Until he saw the tunnel, he had felt at home in the wilds and +might have done so yet, had he, for example, been driving a flock of +sheep; but the railway was disturbing. + +In this country, people traveled by steam-heated trains, instead of on +foot, and engaged a lawyer to defend them from their enemies. He was +going back to the methods of two or three centuries ago, and not even +doing this properly, since the moss-troopers who once rode through +those hills carried lances instead of a check-book, which was after all +his best weapon. He laughed and felt himself something of a modern Don +Quixote as he lighted his pipe. + +Then there was a roar in the tunnel and a North British express, +leaping out through a cloud of smoke, switched his thoughts on to +another track. His adventures had begun in a train, and it was in a +train he met the girl who warned him not to deliver Carmen's packet. +He did not see what the packet had to do with him, but he had had some +trouble about it and thought it might turn up again. Then he wondered +whether Daly was now in Annandale. The fellow was obviously determined +to find Lawrence, and, if one admitted that he had come to England for +the purpose, did not mind how much it cost him, which was rather +strange. After all, blackmailing was a risky business and the +Featherstones were not rich. It looked as if Daly might have some +other object in tracking Lawrence, but Foster could not see what it +was. Indeed, he was frankly puzzled. There was a mystery about +Carmen's packet, he had been warned out of Edinburgh, and inquiries +about him were afterwards made, while Daly's keenness was not quite +explained. He wondered whether these things were somehow related, but +at present they only offered him tangled clews that led nowhere. Well, +he might be able to unravel them by and by, and getting up went on his +way. + +He spent the night at a lonely cothouse on the edge of a peat-moss and +reached the Garth next afternoon. John let him in and after taking his +mackintosh remarked: "Mr. and Mrs. Featherstone are out, but Miss +Featherstone is at home; I will let her know you have arrived." Then +he paused and added in a half-apologetic tone: "I hope you had a +pleasant journey, sir." + +Foster smiled. John had softened his imperturbable formality by just +the right touch of respectful interest. In a sense, they were +accomplices, but Foster thought if they had committed a crime together, +the old fellow would have treated him with unmoved deference as his +master's guest. + +"On the whole, I had. I suppose you met the other car when you turned +back at the station?" + +"Yes, sir. I met it coming round the bend." + +"As the road's narrow, your judgment's pretty good. Did anything +happen?" + +John's eyes twinkled faintly. "Not to our car, sir. The other had the +bad luck to run on to the grass where the ground was soft. In fact, we +had some trouble to pull her out. The gentleman seemed annoyed, sir." + +Foster went to his room chuckling. He could imagine the deferential +way in which John, who had caused the accident, had offered help. When +we went down Alice met him in the hall and he thrilled at something in +her manner as she gave him her hand. It was getting dark and the glow +of the fire flickered among the shadows, but there was only one lamp, +and as it was shaded the light did not travel far beyond the small +table, on which tea was presently served. This hinted at seclusion and +homelike intimacy. An embroidered cloth half-covered the dark, +polished oak, the china was old but unusually delicate, and the blue +flame of a spirit lamp burned beneath the copper kettle. + +Foster thought everything showed signs of fastidious taste, but there +was something austere about it that harmonized with the dignified +shabbiness of the house. It was, for example, very different from the +prettiness of the Edinburgh tea-room, and he thought it hinted of the +character of the Borderers. For all that, the society of his companion +had the greatest charm. Alice was plainly dressed, but simplicity +became her. The girl had the Border spirit, with its reserves of +strength and tenderness. Now she was quietly friendly, but Foster knew +her friendship was not lightly given and was worth much. + +Alice made him talk about his journey and he did so frankly, except +that he did not mention his meeting the girl in the tea-room or the +detective's visit to his hotel. Still he felt a certain embarrassment, +as he had done when he told his partner's story. It was rather hard to +relate his own exploits, and he knew Alice would note any error he was +led into by vanity or false diffidence. + +"Then it was really to keep a promise to Miss Austin you went to +Newcastle," she remarked presently. "Since she sent you with the +packet, you must know her pretty well." + +"Yes," said Foster, "in a way, we are good friends. You see there are +not a great many people at the Crossing." + +Alice gave him a quiet glance. He was not such a fool as to imagine it +mattered to her whether he knew Carmen well or not. But he thought she +was not altogether pleased. + +"What is Miss Austin like?" she asked. + +Foster was careful about his reply. He wanted Alice to understand that +he was not Carmen's lover, which needed tact; but he was her friend and +must do her justice, while any breach of good taste would be noted and +condemned. He did his best, without learning if he had produced the +right effect, for Alice let the matter drop, as if it no longer +interested her. + +"Perhaps it's a pity you helped the men who were poaching," she said. +"I'm afraid you're fond of romantic adventures." + +"I'm sometimes rash and sorry afterwards," Foster admitted. "However, +there's an excuse for the other thing. This is a romantic country and +I've spent a long time in Canada, which is altogether businesslike." + +Alice gave him an approving smile, but she said, "One shouldn't be +sorry afterwards. Isn't that rather weak?" + +"I'm human," Foster rejoined. "A thing looks different when you come +to pay for doing it. It's pretty hard not to feel sorry then." + +"After all, that may be better than counting the cost beforehand and +leaving the thing undone." + +"You're a Borderer; one of the headstrong, old-fashioned kind that +broke the invasions and afterwards defied their own rulers for a whim." + +"As a matter of fact, a number of them were very businesslike. They +fought for their enemies' cattle and the ransom of captured knights." + +"Not always," Foster objected. "At Flodden, where the Ettrick spears +all fell in the smashed squares, the Scots king came down from his +strong camp to meet the English on equal terms. Then it wasn't +businesslike when Buccleugh, with his handful of men, carried off +Kimmont Willie from Carlisle. There was peace between the countries +and he had two offended sovereigns to hold him accountable." + +"It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," +Alice said smiling. + +"I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly. "Still, we have a few +books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the +thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot +stove, there's nothing to do but read. It would be hard for you to +picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from +heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the +grim white desolation outside. Perhaps it's curious, but after working +hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish. One wants +romance, but romance that's real and has the truth in it." + +"But your own life has been full of adventure." + +"In a way, but there was always a business proposition to justify the +risk. It's good to be reckless now and then, and I've felt as I read +about your ancestors that I envied them. There must have been some +charm in riding about the moors with one's lady's glove on one's steel +cap, ready to follow where adventure called." + +"So far as we know," said Alice, "it was the custom to honor one lady, +always. The Border chiefs were rude, but they had their virtues, and +there are some pretty stories of their constancy." + +Foster imagined he saw a faint sparkle in her eyes. He would have +liked to think she resented his having gone to Newcastle on Carmen's +behalf, but doubted this. After a pause she resumed: + +"People say we are decadent and getting slack with luxury, but one +likes to think the spirit of the race survives all changed conditions +and can't be destroyed. There is a colliery not very far off where the +water broke in some years ago. The men in the deep workings were cut +off, but the few who escaped went back into the pit--and never came up. +They knew the thing was impossible, their leaders frankly told them so, +but they would not be denied. Well, the colliery was not reopened, the +shaft-head towers are falling down, but there's a granite fountain on +the moor that will stand for ages to record the splendid sacrifice." + +"They had all to lose," said Foster. "One must admire, without hoping +to emulate, a deed like that." + +Alice changed the subject rather abruptly. "What you have told me is +puzzling. I can't see why the police followed you, and there's +something mysterious about the packet. It all seems connected with +Lawrence's affairs, and yet I can't see how. I suppose you have no +explanation?" + +"Not yet. I feel there's something going on in which I may by and by +take a part. The clews break off, but I may find one that's stronger, +and then----" + +He stopped, but Alice gave him an understanding glance. "Then you +would follow the clew, even if it led you into some danger, for +Lawrence's sake?" + +"I'd try," said Foster, with a flush that gave him a curiously +ingenuous look. "As I've no particular talent for that kind of thing, +I mightn't do much good, but you have accused me of being romantic and +I've owned that I am rash." + +Alice smiled. "You're certainly modest; but there's a rashness that is +much the same as generosity." + +Then Featherstone came in and after a time took Foster to the library, +where he gave him a cigarette. + +"It's strange we haven't heard from Lawrence yet," he said in a +disturbed voice. "He hasn't given the Canadian post office his new +address, because here's a letter they have sent on." + +"From Hulton, who seems to be in Toronto," said Foster, picking up the +envelope. "As I'm a partner, I'll open it." + +He did so and gave Featherstone the letter, which inquired if they +could supply some lumber the company needed. + +"I'm sorry we can't do the work, because we won't be back in time. It +would have been an interesting job to cut the stuff in the way Hulton +wants." + +"He seems to leave a good deal to your judgment and to have no doubt +about your sending him the right material." + +"I suppose that is so," Foster agreed. "Hulton soon got into the way +of sending for Lawrence when he wanted any lumber that had to be +carefully sawn. In fact, he treats him as a kind of consulting +specialist, and I imagine likes him personally." + +He was silent for the next minute or two. Featherstone's remark had +shown him more clearly than he had hitherto realized how high Lawrence +stood in the manufacturer's esteem. No other outsider was treated with +such confidence. Then he told Featherstone about his journey, and the +latter said: + +"I have heard nothing from Daly, but soon after you left, a gentleman +from Edinburgh came here to inquire about you." + +"Ah!" said Foster, rather sharply. "I suppose he was sent by the +police and imagine I met him at my hotel. His name was Gordon; I +thought it curious that he gave me his card." + +"That was the name. He asked if I knew you and I said I did." + +"Then it looks as if he meant to test my statements. Did he seem +surprised to learn I was staying here?" + +"It was hard to tell what the fellow thought; but somehow I felt that +he expected to find your story true. He, however, gave me no +information. What do you suppose he wants?" + +"I can't imagine; the thing's puzzling. What makes it stranger is that +I thought the interest Gordon took in me was, so to speak, benevolent." + +"But why should it be benevolent, if he had any ground for suspecting +you?" Featherstone asked. + +Foster glanced at him keenly. There was a change in his host's manner, +which had grown less cordial, but he admitted that Featherstone's +confidence was being subjected to some strain. It would certainly be +disturbing to find the police inquiring about him. Lawrence had not +written, and Foster saw that there was much in his statements that +sounded rather lame. + +"I don't understand the matter at all; but it might be better if I left +quietly in the morning," he said. "If I don't put Daly on my trail +again, he may come back." + +"Very well," said Featherstone, getting up. "But what did you do with +Lawrence's bag?" + +"I left it at a Peebles hotel. I thought if Daly found it was there, +it would give him a place to watch." + +Featherstone gloomily made a sign of agreement. "I wish Lawrence would +write to us. We are getting anxious about him and a letter would put +our minds at rest." + + + + +XIV + +FOSTER SEES A LIGHT + +After leaving the Garth, Foster went to Carlisle, where he bought small +articles at different shops and had them sent to his hotel, addressed +to Featherstone. He also asked if any letters for his partner had +come, and then, having done all he could think of to give his pursuers +a hint, waited to see what would happen. He imagined that since Daly +seemed to be well provided with money he would not undertake the search +alone, and there were private inquiry agents who would help him. The +services of these gentlemen would not be cheap, and Foster wondered if +the fellow knew that there was not very much to be extorted from +Featherstone. This, however, was Daly's business, and seeing no result +from his experiment, he resolved to leave Carlisle. + +He reached the station undecided where to go. A Midland express would +shortly start for the south, but it would be difficult to leave a clew +in the big manufacturing towns, and there was a stopping train soon +after the other on the North British line, which traverses the Border +hills. Foster preferred this neighborhood, because he was beginning to +know it and it was not far from the Garth, but after a few moments' +consideration went to the Midland ticket window. + +A row of passengers were waiting their turn, and as he took his place +in the line a man crossed the floor and stood behind him. There was +nothing suspicious in this, but the fellow had not come in by the +entrance hall, and if he had been in the station, it was strange he had +not got his ticket earlier. When his turn came, Foster asked for a +ticket to Appleby in a husky voice, and when the booking clerk +demanded, "Where?" looked over his shoulder. The man behind was +leaning forward, as if to catch his reply. + +"Appleby," said Foster, who had seen by a railway map that the town was +not far off, and getting his ticket, joined the passengers on the +platform. As he did so, the long train came in, but knowing that it +would be a minute or two before the engine was changed he walked up the +platform leisurely, looking into the carriages. There was some bustle, +for people were getting out and in, and he kept out of sight among them +until the guard waved his flag. Then he stepped behind a truck loaded +with milk-cans as the train rolled away. + +If the man he had noticed had been watching him, he thought he had put +him off the track, but he had no time to lose if he meant to catch the +stopping train. He got in as it started, choosing an old carriage +without a corridor, so that nobody could spy on him. They jolted over +the crossings, the old red wall of the city rolled by and dropped +behind, and as they ran out towards the open country across the Eden, +Foster thoughtfully lighted a cigarette. He had tried to put his +pursuers on his partner's supposititious trail, but it began to look as +if they were not following Lawrence but him. His injured hand could +hardly have escaped notice, and he was not really like Lawrence, of +whom Daly would no doubt have given his agents a good description. + +He wondered who was on his track, and with what object. Daly would +gain nothing by molesting him, and he could not see why the police +should take an interest in his movements, but he was being watched, and +felt uneasy. He was not sure that he had sent the last man off to +Appleby, although he hoped he had. + +The train, which stopped now and then, ran across flat fields until it +entered the valley of the Esk. The valley narrowed as they sped +through the woods beside the stream, and when the line turned up the +water of Liddel bleak hills began to rise ahead. The trees and rich +cultivation were gradually left behind, the air got keener, and lonely +moors rolled down to the winding dale. It got dark as they followed +the river, and soon afterwards Foster alighted at a small station. +Nobody else left the train except two or three country people, and he +went to an inn in the straggling little town. + +Next morning he set off on foot, heading northeast into the hills. He +walked leisurely, because he was going to Jedburgh, but had not made up +his mind if he would get there that night, since Pete had told him of a +farm where he could stop. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon he stopped near the middle of a +barren moorland and looked round. The road ran back into the strong +yellow glow of the sunset, but it crossed a ridge about a mile off, and +there was nobody in sight. It was very rough in places, but he thought +a skillful driver could take a car over it. To the east, where the +horizon was hazy, the high ground fell away, and he thought he could +strike another road to Jedburgh in three or four miles if he crossed +the heath. There seemed to be no reason why he should do so, but he +left the road and some time later came to a burn that ran down hill. + +By and by a rough track began in a marish field and got smoother as it +followed the burn. Then a hedge of tall thorns, with wool-fringed gaps +between their stems where the sheep went through, ran down the +waterside, and Foster sat down on a stone and studied his map. He +thought it would take him nearly two hours to reach Jedburgh, but the +small farm Pete had spoken of was not far off. The track he was on +seemed to lead to a better road in the valley. Mist was gathering in +the hollow, but when he looked back the sky was bright and the yellow +glow rested on the hill. The evening was very calm; he heard a curlew +crying far off across the moor, and then raised his head sharply at a +quick ringing sound. There was a wire fence up the hill, which he had +got over because the rotten gate stuck fast. Somebody had stumbled in +climbing it and his foot had struck the wire. + +Foster's eyes narrowed as he gazed up the track and saw two figures +come round a corner. They were too far off to be distinct, but were +walking fast. If he sat still, he would be invisible for two or three +minutes but not longer, and he quickly studied his surroundings. There +were large boulders and brambles between him and the water, and the +tall hedge offered a hiding place on the other side. It might be wiser +to get out of sight, but he would make an experiment, and dropped a few +wax matches and a London newspaper he had bought in Carlisle. The +country people did not use wax matches and London newspapers were not +common among the Border moors. + +Then, moving slowly, he made for the hedge. There were only a few +bushes between him and the approaching men, but he had a good +background, into which his figure would melt, and was ready to lie down +if needful. He paused for a moment at the edge of the burn, which +spread out in a shallow that reflected the fading light. He might be +seen against the water, but something must be risked, and if the men +were looking for him, they would watch the road. Stepping into the +stream, he waded across, making as little splash as possible, and found +a hole in the hedge, through which he crawled. He was now in the +shadow and it would be difficult to distinguish him among the thick +stems. + +The men were plainly visible and did not look like country people, for +the hill farmers and shepherds walk with a curious gait. Foster +crouched down and waited, knowing he would get a useful hint when they +reached the spot he had left. They stopped and one picked up the +newspaper, while his companion bent down and got up with something in +his hand. Foster, seeing that the fellow had found the matches, +wondered whether he had made the trail too plain. If they suspected +the trick, they would know he was not far off and search for him. + +He could not distinguish their faces and regretted this, because it +would have been useful to know the men again, and when they began to +talk their voices were too low for him to hear what they said. +Presently one left the road on the opposite side to the stream and +climbed the bank, on which he stood as if he wished to look across the +moor. The other walked along the edge of the grass with his head bent, +but Foster thought it was too dark to see any footprints he might have +left. The fellow came on a few yards towards the stream, and then +stood still while Foster tried to study him, but could only distinguish +his face as a white oval in the gathering dark. + +He was anxious and puzzled, because he did not know whether the men +wanted him or Lawrence. The nearer of them would, no doubt, see him if +he crossed the burn, but Foster thought he might seize and put the +fellow out of action before the other came up. This, however, would be +risky, and since he did not know their intentions he was not sure he +would gain much if he came off victor. To his relief, the man went +back and joined his companion in the road, where they stood looking +about, and then set off rapidly down hill as if they had decided to go +on to Jedburgh. + +When their footsteps died away Foster turned back along the hedge and +struck across the moor in the dark. It would be better to avoid +Jedburgh, and he must try to find the house that Pete had told him of. +He had some trouble in doing so and on the way fell into a bog, but at +length a light blinked on a hillside and he came to a small building, +sheltered by a few stunted ash trees. A shed thatched with heather and +a rough stone byre stood near the house, and a big peat-stack filled +one end of a miry yard. A dog ran out and circled around Foster, +barking, until an old man with a lantern drove it off and asked what he +wanted. + +Foster said he wanted shelter for the night and was willing to pay for +the accommodation, to which the other replied that they did not take in +strangers. When Foster stated that Long Pete had told him to go there +he hesitated, and finally said, "Weel, ye can come awa' in and see the +mistress." + +The flagged kitchen was very clean and a big peat fire burned in the +grate. A black oak meal-chest stood against the wall and old-fashioned +china filled the rack above. On the opposite side, there was a large +cupboard, which Foster thought concealed a bed. The room was warm and +looked comfortable after the wet moor. Then Foster turned to the +red-cheeked old woman who sat knitting by the fire and fixed on him a +quietly-scrutinizing gaze. He explained that he was tired and wanted +to stay the night, adding that Pete had said they would be willing to +accommodate him. + +"What for no', if ye're a friend o' his?" she asked. "It's a lang road +to Jedburgh. But ye'll be wanting some supper." + +Foster confessed that he was hungry and after a time sat down to a +plain but appetizing meal. When this was over he gave his host his +tobacco pouch and for an hour or two they talked and smoked. The man +farmed a patch of sour moss-land, but he was marked by a grave +politeness and asked his guest no awkward questions. Foster thought +the woman was studying him, but she restrained her curiosity and he +admitted that the manners of both were remarkably good. He was +beginning to understand and like the lowland Scots, though he saw that +some of the opinions he had formed about them were wrong. + +They were reserved, essentially practical, and industrious, but they +had, when one came to know them, a certain reckless humor that one did +not often find among Englishmen. Then they were marked by an +individualistic independence of character that made them impatient of +authority. They were not turbulent or given to protesting about +freedom, but they could not be cajoled or driven. It was strange to +find a well-organized fraternity of poachers in a quiet, law-keeping +country, but one must allow something for habits inherited from +moss-trooper ancestors. Foster had noted their respect for good +landlords of ancient stock, but this did not prevent them using the +landlord's salmon and game. Since he had, so to speak, been made a +member of the band, it was comforting to feel that they could be +trusted, and he was somehow sure of this. + +He slept soundly in the cupboard bed and made an excuse for staying at +the farm next day, but as he stood outside the house in the afternoon +his host came up. + +"There were two men on the Jedburgh road asking about a stranger on a +walking tour." + +"Ah!" said Foster. "Do you know whether they asked if the man they +wanted wore a glove?" + +"They did that!" + +Foster pondered. He was being searched for, and his host knew he was +the man inquired about, but the old fellow's face was expressionless. + +"Since I didn't get so far as the road, they'd learn nothing." + +The other's eyes twinkled. "I wouldna' say they would find out much if +they cam' up here." + +"Well," said Foster, "I don't know yet if I'll go on to-day or not." + +"Ye ken best aboot that," the farmer answered with Scottish dryness. +"I dinna' see much objection if ye're for stopping another night." + +He went off, but Foster felt satisfied that he was safe with him, and +presently strolled round to the peat-stack where he sat down in the +sun. There was a hollow where the peats had been pulled out, and the +brown dust was warm and dry. Lighting his pipe, he began to think. He +was being watched, but whether by the police, or Daly, or somebody +else, there was nothing to show. He did not think his poaching +adventure had much to do with it, but he had taken the packet to +Newcastle, although he had been warned against this. There was a +mystery about the packet. + +For a time he got no further, and as he sat, gazing vacantly across the +moor, the sun went behind a cloud and the freshening wind whistled +round the stack. It got cold and Foster's pipe burned out, but he did +not move. Hitherto he had been working in the dark, feeling for a +clew, but he began to see a glimmer of light and presently clenched his +fist with an exclamation. The light dawned on him in an illuminating +flash. + +He had been tricked and made a tool. Carmen had acted by her father's, +or somebody else's, orders when she gave him the packet, and the man in +Edinburgh had enclosed something before he sent him on to Newcastle. +Nobody would suspect him and that was why he had been entrusted with +the packet in Canada. It was now clear that he had been made use of to +carry the stolen bonds to Great Britain. Carmen, of course, knew +nothing about them, but had been influenced by Daly. Perhaps she was +in love with him, but in the meantime this did not matter. Foster +filled his pipe again, because he meant to solve the puzzle while the +light was clear and his brain was working well. + +Alice Featherstone had given him the first hint of the truth when she +suggested that the packet was somehow connected with his being watched +and Daly's pursuit of Lawrence. Of course it was! The police had not +much ground for suspecting him, but he had come to England without any +obvious business, and if Hulton or his agents had warned them, they +would inquire about strangers from Canada. Then he began to see why +Daly was determined to find Lawrence. + +Fred Hulton had been robbed and killed and Daly was implicated in the +crime, if he had not committed it himself. The fellow's first object +was not blackmail; he meant to use his power over Lawrence to ensure +his secrecy. Lawrence was the only person who had seen the murderer. +It could not have been clear if he had mistaken him for the watchman or +not when he went into the pay-office at the factory, and as long as a +doubt remained Lawrence was the greatest danger the gang had to reckon +on. Foster felt sure there was a gang. Admitting all this, one could +understand why Daly meant to find Lawrence, but Foster began to see how +he could make use of the situation. + +He had been easily deceived and the plotters no doubt thought him a +fool. Suppose he took advantage of their belief and asked for an +answer to his message or something of the kind? He might by good luck +get a letter or find out enough about them to explain what had happened +in Canada. The vague plan appealed to him strongly. He was savage at +the way he had been tricked, and it would be something to circumvent +the people who had made him a tool. Besides, he could not go to the +police yet: Lawrence's secret must be kept. He must first of all gain +such a hold on Daly as would render him powerless to injure his +comrade. After that, when he knew how far the man was implicated in +the robbery, he could decide what ought to be done. Well, he would go +to Newcastle and see Graham, to whom he had given the packet, but he +might need help and thought he knew where to find it. Getting up with +a quick, resolute movement, he went back to the house. + +"I'm going to write to Pete and bring him here," he said to the woman. +"I don't suppose you'll turn me out before he comes." + +She gave him a quiet, searching glance, and her husband seemed to leave +the matter to her. + +"For a' his poaching, ye'll find Pate an honest man," she answered +meaningly. + +"So am I; it's an honest man I want. You have trusted me and I'll +trust you as far as I can when Pete arrives. Shall we leave it until +then?" + +The woman nodded. "Ye can stay until he ken what yere business is." + +"Thank you," said Foster, who sat down to write to Pete. + +He thought her judgment would be just, if she had not already decided +in his favor. Until he came to Scotland, he had never met people who +could say so little and mean so much. Moreover, he imagined one could +depend upon their standing by all that they implied. They were +taciturn but staunch. + + + + +XV + +THE GLOVE + +Pete arrived in the evening when it was getting dark, and after a meal, +which they ate together, Foster moved his chair back from the table and +sat opposite his companions. A lamp was burning and the red glow from +the peat fire fell on their rough clothing and quiet brown faces as +they waited for him to speak. He admitted that what he was about to do +was rash. He had no logical reason for trusting these people and +perhaps no right to involve them in his difficulties, while the +sensible course would be to put the matter in the hands of the police. +But this was a course he did not mean to take. + +"I sent for you because I want your help and I'm willing to pay for it +well," he said to Pete. + +"Just that!" Pete answered quietly. "In an ordinar' way, I'm no' verra +particular, but before I take the money I'd like to ken how it's to be +earned." + +"As a matter of fact, you won't get all of it until it is earned and I +see how much the job is worth. In the meantime, you can judge, and if +necessary go to the police." + +Pete grinned. "They're no' the kin' o' gentry I hae mony dealings +with." + +"What for are ye hiding frae them?" the woman asked. + +Foster saw the others' eyes were fixed on him and he must, to some +extent, satisfy their curiosity. He did not think he could have +convinced conventional Englishmen, or perhaps Canadians, but these +Scots were different. They were certainly not less shrewd than the +others, but while sternly practical in many ways they had imagination; +moreover, they were descendants of the Border cattle-thieves. + +"I'm not really hiding from the police, but from people who have better +grounds for fearing them. I owe nobody anything and, so far as I know, +have done nobody wrong." + +There was silence for a moment or two and he recognized that his +statement was very incomplete, but somehow thought the others did not +discredit it. + +"If I could tell you the whole story, I would, but that's impossible +just now," he resumed. "Other people, honorable, upright people, are +involved. Of course, the thing looks suspicious, and you know nothing +about me, but what I mean to do is not against the law." + +They were silent yet, but after a few moments Foster saw his host +glance at the woman. + +"What is it ye mean to do?" she asked. + +"I'm going to Newcastle to try to get some information and papers that +will help me to save a friend from serious trouble. That's my first +object, but I hope to find out something about a crime in Canada, by +which another friend of mine suffered terribly. I may have to steal +the papers, and if I get them, expect I shall have to deal with a gang +of dangerous men, who will try to take them back. That's why I want +Pete; but he'll probably find it a risky business." + +Foster waited anxiously for a reply. He was not justified in expecting +it to be favorable, but he did so. The woman seemed to ponder, but +presently turned to Pete. + +"Ye had better gang." + +Pete laughed, a reckless laugh that hinted at a love of excitement and +danger. + +"Aye," he said, "that's what I was thinking!" + +After this the matter was soon arranged, and next morning Foster and +Pete set off. They went south by hill-tracks, for Foster meant to +visit the Garth, but preferred to arrive when dusk was falling. He did +not want his visit to be marked, but must see Alice before he embarked +upon his new adventure. + +The sun was setting behind the moors when they came down the waterside, +and leaving Pete in the gloom of the fir wood, he walked through a +shrubbery to the house. He had seen nothing to indicate that he was +watched and could trust Pete to see that nobody followed him from the +road, but he meant to take precautions and did not want to meet +Featherstone. When he left the shrubbery he had only a few yards of +open lawn to cross and the light was dim beside the house, but he kept +off the graveled terrace until he was abreast of the door. He was now +faced by a difficulty, but must leave something to chance and felt +relieved when John answered his quiet knock. The man showed no +surprise at seeing him. + +"Mr. Featherstone is out, sir, and Mrs. Featherstone occupied, but Miss +Featherstone is at home," he said. + +"Will you ask her if she can meet me for a few minutes in the orchard?" + +"Very good, sir; I will take your message." + +Foster turned away. He had given John no hint to keep his visit +secret, because this would be useless. If the old fellow thought it +his duty to tell his master, he would do so; if not, one could trust to +his discretion. Entering the orchard by an arch in a mossy wall, he +waited where a soft light shone into it from the west. Outside the +arch, the smooth sweep of lawn ran back into deepening shadow and the +bare trees behind it rose, sharp and black, against the sky. Above +there was a heavy bank of gray-blue clouds. + +Then his heart began to beat as Alice appeared in the arch. Her figure +was silhouetted against the light and he noted how finely she held +herself and moved. Still he could not see her face and waited with +some uneasiness until she advanced and gave him her hand. + +"I hoped you would come," he said. "But I was half afraid----" + +Alice smiled and as she turned her head the fading glow touched her +face. It gave no hint of resentment or surprise. + +"That I would not come?" she suggested. "After all, I really think men +are more conventional than we are. But why did you not let John bring +you in?" + +"When I was last here, I noted a change in your father's manner. That +is one reason, though there are others. Then I must go in two or three +minutes." + +Alice looked at him steadily and he knew that frankness was best. + +"You mean you thought he had lost his confidence in you?" + +"I was afraid he might find it getting strained. He seemed disturbed." + +"He is disturbed," Alice said quietly. "We have heard nothing from my +brother yet." + +"One can sympathize with you, but I don't think you have much ground +for uneasiness. Lawrence was told he must be careful, but that was +all, and there's no likelihood of his health's suddenly breaking down. +Then I understand he was rather irregular about writing home; he forgot +now and then." + +"He did forget," Alice agreed and fixed her eyes on Foster while a +slight flush crept into her face. "Perhaps I had better say I do not +altogether share my father's anxiety." + +Foster felt a thrill, for he thought she meant she had not lost her +confidence in him. + +"I'd like to go back and look for Lawrence, but can't do so yet," he +said. "For one thing, it might put Daly on his track and it's now +important that he shouldn't meet Lawrence in Canada. There have been +developments; in fact, I have come to think Daly had something to do +with sending the packet I took to Newcastle." + +"Then Miss Austin was in the plot against my brother and made use of +you?" + +"No; she certainly made use of me, but I imagine others made use of +her. There is a plot, but I don't relieve she knew anything about it." + +"I suppose you feel you must defend the girl?" + +"In a way," Foster agreed. "Carmen Austin is a friend of mine; but I'm +not sure she really needs defending. Anyhow, if I'd known what was in +the packet, I wouldn't have taken it." + +"Then you have found out what was in it?" + +"I have a suspicion. I'm going to see how far it's justified, and if +I'm fortunate, rather think the people who sent me to Newcastle will be +sorry." + +Alice said nothing for a few moments, but he thought she grasped the +significance of his hint that he was willing to spoil the plans of +Carmen's friends. He did not know if this gave her any satisfaction, +but did not expect her to show her feelings. + +"Can you tell me anything more?" she asked. + +"Yes," he said. "I feel I ought to tell somebody, because it may turn +out rather a serious undertaking. One reason for choosing you is that +it's a complicated and unlikely tale." + +"And you thought I would believe where others might doubt?" + +Foster bowed. "I did hope something of the kind. I don't know if I +was too venturesome. But if you'll listen----" + +She gave him a curious look and he began by telling her of the tragedy +at the Hulton mill and Lawrence's meeting the supposititious watchman. +Then he related how he had been tracked through the hills, and +explained the conclusions he had arrived at when the light first dawned +on him as he puzzled out the matter by the peat stack. She said +nothing until he finished, but he thought she looked somewhat moved. + +"But wouldn't it be better to leave the thing to the police?" she asked. + +"No," said Foster, smiling. "To begin with, they might suspect me; one +understands they're not very credulous people and it would take some +time to prove my statements. Then, if they weren't very careful, +they'd frighten the Newcastle man away, while I might, so to speak, +catch him off his guard." + +"It sounds plausible; but I think you have a better reason." + +"If I have, it's to some extent temperamental; a natural reaction after +leading a sober life," Foster said humorously. "There's a charm in +trying to do something that's really beyond your mark and ought to be +left to somebody else." + +"It's possible; but I'm not satisfied yet." + +Foster hesitated. "After all, it might be better to keep the police +off Daly's track until I've seen him. He might make trouble for +Lawrence if he was arrested, but I don't think this counts for much. +You would be nearer the mark if you took it for granted that I'm +naturally rash and can't resist a chance of adventure." + +They had walked round the orchard, and reached the arch again, but +Alice stopped. + +"So it seems," she said in a quiet voice that nevertheless gave a +Foster a thrill. "The charm of rashness is a favorite subject of +yours." + +"It's better that your friends should understand you," Foster replied +modestly. + +"One must admit that you live up to the character you give yourself. +First you plunged into difficulties to keep a promise you should not +have made, then you undertook to baffle a dangerous man because your +partner needed help, and now I think you are going to face a very +serious risk." + +Foster, who felt embarrassed, said nothing, and Alice gave him her hand. + +"I am glad you have been frank with me, and if my wish can bring you +good fortune, it will be yours. You will do your best, I know; but be +careful and come back safe!" + +Foster had kissed her hand on another occasion, but durst not do so +now. He was conscious of a keen emotional stirring and thought the +girl felt some strain. There was a hint of suppressed feeling in her +voice that sapped his self-control, and he thought it was because she +trusted and liked him her manner had a certain touch of pride. + +"After all, I don't think I run much risk," he answered. "But if there +was a risk, it would be well worth while." + +It was nearly dark, but he thought he saw some color in her face. + +"Good luck! But wait in the road for a minute or two," she said and +turned away. + +He watched her cross the lawn until her figure faded into the gloom, +after which he went back to the gate and waited until John came up with +a small packet. + +"Miss Featherstone sends you this, sir, but hopes you won't open it +until you are in the train." + +Foster thanked him and went back with Pete up the waterside. The air +was keen and a light mist hung about the rough track that took them to +the moors. There was a beat of wings as a flock of wild duck passed +overhead when they skirted a reedy pool, and once or twice the wild cry +of a curlew came out of the dark. Except for this, the moor was silent +and desolate, but Foster felt a strange poignant elation as he stumbled +among the ruts and splashed across boggy grass. They walked for two or +three hours and he was muddy and rather wet when the lights of a small +station began to twinkle in the gloom ahead. + +Half an hour later they caught a train to Hexham, and Foster, who sent +Pete to a smoking compartment, was alone when he opened the packet John +had brought. Then the blood rushed to his face and his heart beat, for +when he unfolded the thin paper he saw a small white glove. +Remembering how they had once talked about Border chivalry, he knew +what Alice meant. She believed his tale and knew the risks he ran, and +had sent him her glove that he might carry it as her badge. He folded +the piece of delicate kid carefully and put it in a pocket where it +rested upon his heart. + +"After this, I've got to put my job over, whatever it costs," he said. + + + + +XVI + +A DIFFICULT PART + +It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Foster stopped in front of +the grimy building where Graham had his office, and looked up and down +the street. Close by, a carter stood at the head of an impatient horse +that stamped and rattled its harness, and a hoist clanked as a bale of +goods went up to a top story; but except for this the street was quiet +Farther off, one or two moving figures showed indistinctly, for rain +was falling and the light getting dim. Foster, who had arrived in +Newcastle that morning, had waited, thinking it might suit him better +to leave the town in the dark. + +"Go back to the end of the street, where you can see the clock," he +said to Pete. "If I don't join you in half an hour, run to the nearest +police station and ask for a man to search the top office in this +building." + +"The polis are no' good friends o' mine," Pete replied doubtfully. "I +would sooner come for ye my lane. There's an airnmonger's roon' the +corner, where I would maybe get a shairp gairden fork." + +Foster laughed. Pete's methods were too primitive, although, in his +strong hands, the fork would prove a dangerous weapon. + +"I don't expect you'd be able to help much if I'm not back when I said. +But you can walk along the street now and then, and notice anybody who +leaves the building." + +He went in and set his lips as he climbed the stairs, for he imagined +he would need all the tact and coolness he possessed. He had been made +the tool of people who thought him an unsuspecting simpleton, but was +uncertain how far it would be safe to trade upon this view of his +character, although he meant to do so to some extent. There might be +an advantage in hinting that he knew a little about their business; but +he must make no mistakes. His steps echoed hollowly along the top +landing and there was something daunting in the gloom, for the gas had +not yet been lighted and the building was very quiet. It was possible +that he had started on this adventure with a rashness as great as his +folly in undertaking Carmen's errand, but he carried Alice +Featherstone's glove and it was unthinkable that he should turn back. + +There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after +he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in +and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room. Sitting down, he +offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some +surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another. It would +be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke. Graham +pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being +disturbed. He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and +Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything +else. + +"I'm rather busy just now," he said. "For all that, if I can be of any +use to you, Mr. ----" + +Foster thought he overdid it by pretending to forget his name, but he +smiled. + +"Foster. You'll recollect I brought you a packet, and as I'm going +back to Canada soon, I imagined I might take Miss Austin or Daly a +reply. You can see that they thought me a reliable messenger." + +"Miss Austin obviously did so," Graham admitted. + +"Doesn't this imply that Daly shared her good opinion?" Foster asked. + +Graham glanced at him sharply and then picked up a letter and studied +it, but Foster imagined he wanted time to think. He had made the +plunge and indicated that he knew more than the other supposed; but the +rest needed care. + +"You expect to meet Daly when you get back to Canada?" Graham inquired, +and Foster, who saw that he was cautious, wondered whether he was +alarmed. + +"Oh, no; I expect to meet him before I start." + +"You imply that he's in England." + +"Don't you know he is?" Foster rejoined. + +Graham knocked the ash off his cigarette and looked at him curiously. +His appearance was commonplace, he had a slight stoop, and was not +muscular, but Foster felt he might prove dangerous. + +"I don't know where he is just now. Do you?" + +"Well," said Foster, "I believe I could find him if I tried." + +The other was silent for the next few moments and Foster waited with +some anxiety. If he pretended to know too much, he might be found out, +but if Graham imagined he knew nothing, he would hesitate about +informing him. The difficulty was that while he played the part of a +simpleton who had been made use of by the rest of the gang, he must +imply that they had to some extent taken him into their confidence. + +"To tell the truth, I haven't heard from Daly for a month," Graham +replied. "This has disadvantages and I'll own that I'd like to know +what he is doing." + +"Then it looks as if I was better informed. Mr. Daly's engaged in some +private business." + +"Private business?" + +"Just so," Foster answered, smiling. "He imagines it will turn out +profitable, but I expect it will take up much of his time." + +"But----" said Graham, and stopped. + +Foster made a sign of comprehension. "You feel he oughtn't to have any +business that might interfere with his duty to the rest of you?" + +"What do you know about his duty?" Graham asked. + +"Well," said Foster, "I frankly don't know very much. In fact, it +looks as if your Canadian friends didn't trust me very far, but just +told me enough to make me understand my job. No doubt, that was +wisest, although it's not flattering. Anyhow, I brought you a packet +with some valuable enclosures, which ought to justify your sending back +any confidential message to the people it came from by me." + +He had made a bold venture, but saw that he was right, for Graham +knitted his brows, as if he was thinking hard. Then he said, "Very +well. As it happens, there are some papers I would like to send, and +if you don't mind taking them, I'll give you a letter to Daly and +another to Miss Austin." + +"Miss Austin, of course, will pass the letter on." + +"That's understood," Graham agreed. + +Foster carelessly lighted a fresh cigarette, and Graham, leaning +forward, opened a safe and took out one or two papers that Foster could +not see well. So far, the latter had done better than he had hoped, +and in another few minutes would be in the possession of papers that +might throw a useful light upon the plot. Yet the strain was beginning +to tell and his nerves tingled as he watched his companion write. + +A lamp with a broken mantle flickered above Graham's head and the stove +crackled, but the outer office, the door of which was open, was dark, +and the building was strangely quiet. No sound rose from the narrow +street below, which ran like a still backwater among the tall +warehouses. Foster, putting his hand in his pocket as if to feel for +matches, touched the small Browning pistol he had brought. He was not +afraid of Graham, but somebody might come in. At length the man sealed +two envelopes and put them beside his writing-pad. + +"If you cannot find Daly, you must bring the first back to me. When do +you sail?" + +"I don't know yet; I haven't looked up the steamship companies' +notices," Foster answered, and as soon as he had spoken saw that he had +made a mistake. + +He had led Graham to believe he was going at once; indeed, this was his +excuse for offering to take a message, but he remembered that in order +to get a good room on a fast boat it was necessary to book one's +passage some time in advance. He thought Graham had marked the slip, +although his face was expressionless. + +"I don't want the letters carried about for long," he said. + +"Certainly not," Foster agreed. "If I'm delayed, or can't get hold of +Daly as soon as I thought, I'll bring them back. However, I've kept +you from your business and must get off." + +Graham did not move, and the letters were out of Foster's reach. + +"You have got your instructions from Gascoyne and know what to do if +you have any trouble on your journey?" + +Foster felt embarrassed. He did not know if Gascoyne was the man he +had gone to in Edinburgh, and durst not risk a fresh mistake. Besides, +it was possible that there was not such a person among the other's +friends and the question was a trap. + +"No," he said boldly. "I can get all the instructions that are needful +when I meet Daly. Give me the letters." + +"I think not. It would be better to wait until we hear what Gascoyne +has to say, since you haven't seen him as I thought. He may have +something to send with the other documents. Suppose you come back +about this time to-morrow." + +Foster feared he was found out, and imagined that if he agreed, he +would find the office closed and Graham gone; unless perhaps the fellow +waited for him with one or two of his accomplices. Foster was certain +he had accomplices. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he +carried Alice Featherstone's glove and meant to get the letters. + +"No," he said. "I'm willing to do you a favor, particularly as I want +something to show my friends in Canada that I brought the packet safe. +But I'm not going to put myself to much inconvenience. You have +written the letters. Let me have them; I must catch my train." + +He put his hand on the Browning pistol and was glad to feel it there, +though he hardly thought he would be forced to draw it. He was +physically stronger than Graham, but it had come to a trial of nerve +and he knew he had a cunning antagonist. Besides, he could not tell +how much longer they would be left alone and he might be in serious +danger if somebody else came in. Still, he must not look anxious and +quietly fixed his eyes on Graham's face. + +"I can't take the risk," the latter declared. "Will you wait until I +see if I can get Gascoyne on the telephone?" + +The telephone was in the other office and Foster durst not let the man +out of his sight. + +"I've been here long enough and have just time to get to the station." + +There was silence for a few moments and Foster felt his heart beat. He +meant to finish the interview as it had begun, without doing anything +unusual, but if this was impossible, he had another plan. His muscles +were stiffened ready for a spring; he would pin the fellow to his desk +while he seized the letters. Though he meant to look calm, his face +got very grim; but Graham carelessly pushed the letters towards him. + +"Very well! You will take the responsibility if there's any trouble." + +"I will," said Foster, as coolly as he could, and picked up the +envelopes. "Sorry if I've detained you. Good afternoon." + +He was half afraid to turn his back to the other, but there was no +avoiding this and he heard no suspicious movement until he reached the +door. Then, as he expected, the telephone bell rang, and Foster, +running down the steps, drew a breath of relief when he reached the +street. It was now dark, but he felt comforted as he saw Pete's tall +figure in the gloom. + +"Look behind you now and then and tell me if anybody follows us," he +said, and knowing that Pete's eyes could be trusted, carefully reviewed +the situation when they turned into a busy street. + +It was obvious that the conclusions he had come to by the peat-stack +were correct, and the police, who were obviously watching him, thought +he might know something about the Hulton tragedy. If so, his movements +had not been calculated to allay their suspicions. He had now papers +that were probably dangerous in his pocket, and it he were caught +before he got rid of them, it would be difficult to prove his +innocence. The safe line would be to make for the nearest police +station and give up the documents. So long as he kept them, he had as +much to fear from the police as from Daly's gang. But he did not mean +to give them up just yet. + +His duty to the State was plain, but he was frankly determined to save +his comrade first, and imagined that he could do so, although the thing +would be difficult. For all that, Daly must be forced to keep +Lawrence's secret. Then he had, to some extent, discredited Daly with +his accomplice by informing Graham that he was engaged upon some +profitable private business. It looked as if Graham did not know what +the fellow's object was; after all, the gang might not trust each other +very far. The trouble was that Daly might not be easily found, and in +the meantime Foster had two dangers to guard against; but he meant to +be careful, and to tell the police all he knew as soon as he had dealt +with Daly. + +Nothing indicated that they were followed on their way to the Central +Station, where Foster left Pete outside and ascertained that a train +would shortly start for Carlisle. He would have liked to travel by it, +since he expected to find Daly near the western Border. Besides, it +was prudent to leave Newcastle as soon as he could, since his injured +hand made him easily distinguishable and Graham had run to the +telephone. The latter would not have let him take the papers without a +struggle had he not some plan of getting them back. Foster did not +know how many accomplices Graham had, but imagined he had to deal with +a well-organized gang, who would find it much easier to watch the +railway than the lonely moors between it and the Cheviots. Making his +way through a crowd on a busy platform, he left the station by another +door, where he met Pete, whom he had sent round. It was possible that +these precautions were needless, but he did not mean to take any risk +he could avoid. + +"Where will ye be for the noo?" Pete asked. + +"The head of Liddesdale, to begin with. But I don't know yet if we'll +go west by the old military road, or across the moors. It will depend +upon whether the fellow I went to see gets upon my track." + +Pete's eyes twinkled. "It will be a clever man who tracks us when we +tak' the heather. But have ye the papers ye went tae steal?" + +"I have. If they're what I think and I can keep them safe until I use +them, they're worth twenty pounds to you." + +"Aweel," said Pete, "I'll feel mair sure o' the money when we win oot +o' the toon. It's ower full o' polls, and my talents are no' o' much +use here." + +They had left the station and reaching a street where Foster made some +inquiries, waited in the door of an office building until a tram-car +came up. Getting in, they were carried through the wet and smoky +streets towards the city's western outskirts. + + + + +XVII + +THE LETTERS + +The sky had cleared when Foster left the car at the end of the line and +headed towards open country. On the whole, he thought he was fortunate +to get out of Newcastle safe, because there were grounds for believing +that Graham had found out the trick. If this were so, he would +certainly try to recover the documents. On the surface, it seemed +strange that the fellow had let him take them away; but, when one came +to think of it, as soon as he had written and sealed the letters he was +helpless. + +In order to keep them, he would have had to overpower Foster, for which +he had not the physical strength, while any noise they made in the +struggle might have brought in help. Then supposing that Graham had by +some chance mastered him, he would not have gained much, because Foster +would have gone to the police when he got away. It was, of course, +absurd to think that Graham might have killed him, since this would +have led to his arrest. He had accordingly given up the letters, but +Foster felt he was not safe yet. He might be attacked in some cunning +way that would prevent his assailants being traced. It depended upon +whether the documents were worth the risk, and he would know this soon. + +In the meantime he was entering a belt of ugly industrial country. Now +and then the reflected glare of a furnace quivered in the sky; tall +chimney-stacks and mounds of refuse showed faintly in the dark, and he +passed clusters of fiercely burning lights and dull red fires. He +supposed they marked pithead banks and coke-ovens; but pushed on +steadily towards the west. He wanted to put some distance between +himself and Newcastle before he stopped. + +After a time a row of lights twinkled ahead and, getting nearer, he saw +chimneys, dark skeleton towers of timber, and jets of steam behind the +houses. It was a colliery village, and when he passed the first lamps +he vacantly noticed the ugliness of the place. The small, grimy houses +were packed as close as they could be got, the pavement was covered +with black mud, and the air filled with acrid smoke. Presently, +however, he came to a pretentious hotel, built of glaring red brick and +ornamented with sooty paint. He wondered what accounted for its being +planted there; but it offered shelter for the night and he went in. + +He admitted that he had slept in worse places than the room he was +shown, although it looked far from comfortable, but the supper he got +was good, and he afterwards entered a small room behind the bar. There +was a bright fire, near which he sat down when Pete went away. The +strain he had borne had brought its reaction; he felt tired and slack. +There was another room across the passage, and he smelt rank tobacco +and heard voices speaking a harsh dialect and the tramp of heavy boots +on boards. The door was open and men with curiously pale faces that +did not look clean passed now and then. Foster thought they were +colliers and he had nothing to fear from them. + +He had two or three companions, who sat round a small table and seemed +by their talk to belong to a football committee. The landlord treated +them with some deference, as if they were important people, but Foster +wished they would go. He wanted to examine the letters, but thought it +safer to wait until he was alone, since inquiries might afterwards be +made about him. At length the footballers went way, and shutting the +door, he turned his chair so that he could see anybody who came in, +without looking round. It was satisfactory to note that the table +would be between him and a new-comer. + +Before opening the letters, he tried to recollect what had happened in +Graham's office. The fellow sat in front of a desk with a row of +pigeon-holes and sides that prevented Foster's noting exactly what he +did after he began to write. In consequence, Foster could not tell if +he had put anything except the letters in the envelopes, although he +had taken some papers from the safe. It looked as if Graham had not +meant him to see and had not trusted him altogether from the beginning. +Now he probably knew he was an impostor, although this was not quite +certain. Foster took out the envelopes, and broke the seal of the +first, which was addressed to Daly, without hesitation. + +It contained a tourist agency's circular cheque for a moderate sum, +payable by coupons at any of the company's offices in England and +Canada, and Foster saw the advantage of this, because, as the offices +were numerous, one could not tell where the coupons would be cashed. +Then he found a letter, which he thought bore out his conclusions, +although, on the surface, it did not tell him much. It stated that +Jackson's business had been satisfactorily transacted in Berlin, but +the Hamburg matter had not been arranged yet. Lascelles had had some +difficulties in Paris, but expected to negotiate a sale. + +Foster carefully folded the papers and replaced them in his pocket. +The names were probably false, but they stood for agents of the gang, +whose business was, no doubt, the sale of the stolen bonds. He +remembered Percival, the treasurer's, statement that the securities +might be disposed of on a Continental bourse, and Hulton's reluctance +to advertise their loss. Well, he now had proof that Daly was, at +least, a party to the theft, and ground for believing him to be open to +a more serious charge. The fellow was in his power. + +He, however, hesitated a moment before opening the letter to Carmen. +He was half-afraid of finding her to some extent implicated in the +plot; and it was with relief he saw nothing but another envelope inside +the first, which he threw into the fire. The enclosed envelope was +addressed to a man he did not know, and he thought Carmen's part would +be confined to giving it to her father, or somebody else, who would +pass it on. Tearing it open, he found a cheque on an American bank for +a thousand dollars, but the payee's name was different from that on the +cover. Foster put it away and lighted his pipe. + +Some of the bonds had obviously been sold and there were a number of +men in the plot, though it was possible that they did not know all +about the Hulton tragedy. Foster understood that one could dispose of +stolen securities through people who would undertake the dangerous +business without asking awkward questions, if the profit were high +enough. Still he thought Graham knew, and this would give him an +incentive stronger than his wish to save the money for trying to get +the letters back. Indeed, Foster imagined that he was now in serious +danger. Graham's run to the telephone had alarmed him. + +Nobody came in and by degrees the room across the passage got quiet as +its occupants went away. It was some relief that the noise had +stopped, but Foster liked to feel that there were people about. He was +tired and began to get drowsy as he lounged in front of the fire, but +roused himself with an effort, knowing he ought to keep awake. For all +that, he did not hear the door open, and got up with a start as a man +came in. Then his alarm vanished for Pete stood looking at him with a +sympathetic twinkle. + +"I ken what ye feel," the latter remarked. "It's like meeting a keeper +when ye hae a hare in the lining o' yere coat." + +"Yes," said Foster, "I expect its something like that. But where have +you been?" + +"Roon' the toon, though it's no' verra big or bonnie. Then I stopped a +bit in the bar o' the ither hotel. Sixpence goes some way, if ye stick +to beer." + +"I hope you didn't say much if there were strangers about." + +Pete grinned. "I said a' I could; aboot the sheep and bullocks we were +going to look at up Bellingham way; but, if it's only comfort, there's +no strangers in the place but a commaircial who deals with the grossers +and anither who got a good order from the colliery. Maybe that's worth +the money for the beer!" + +"It certainly is," Foster agreed. "We'll have a reckoning at the end +of the journey, but here's your sixpence." Then he looked at his +watch. "Well, I think it's late enough to go to bed, and you can order +breakfast. We had better get off as soon as it's light." + +"There's a train to Hexham at nine o'clock, the morn. It might suit ye +to start for the station, even if ye dinna' get there." + +"No," said Foster thoughtfully. "We'll pull out by some by-road before +that. You see, the train comes from Newcastle." + +He went to his room, which was next to Pete's, and after putting the +letters under his pillow quietly moved a chest of drawers against the +door. The lock was a common pattern and could probably be opened by a +key from any of the neighboring rooms. He was half-ashamed of this +precaution, but admitted that he was getting nervous. Hitherto he had +found some amusement in leaving a trail for his pursuers, but there was +a difference now. For all that, he slept soundly until he was awakened +by a noise at the door. It was dark and somebody was trying to get in. +Seizing his pistol, he leaned on one elbow, ready to spring out of bed, +and then felt keen relief as he heard Pete say, "Dinna' keep on +knocking! Leave the hot water outside." + +"Yes; put it down, thanks," said Foster, who got up, feeling angry with +himself. + +It looked as if the person outside had been knocking for some time, and +the landlord's curiosity might have been excited had he heard that his +guest had barricaded his door. Dressing by gaslight, he found +breakfast ready when he went down, and day broke soon after the meal +was over. Foster paid his bill and set off with Pete, taking the main +road west until they reached the end of the village, where some men +were working on a colliery bank. Pete indicated a lane that branched +off to the north. + +"Yon's our way, but I'm thinking we'll gang straight on for a bit." + +They followed the main road until the men were out of sight, and then +crossing some fields, turned into the lane they had passed, which rose +steadily to higher ground. After a time they found another road +running straight towards the west. This was the old military road, +made when the Romans built the Pict's wall, and long afterwards +repaired by General Wade, who tried to move his troops across to +intercept Prince Charlie's march. Foster sat down for a few minutes at +the corner and looked back at the distant chimney-stacks and trails of +smoke. + +The railway and the road by which the main traffic went followed the +valley of the Tyne, but the military road kept to the edge of the bleak +moors. He gathered from the map that it was, for the most part, +lonely, and thought Graham would expect him to go by train; the latter +probably knew enough about him to anticipate his making for Liddesdale, +and as there were not many trains running north from Hexham, would +reckon on his traveling by Carlisle. If this were so, and he was being +looked for, his pursuers would now be in front of him instead of +behind, and he saw some advantage in keeping them there. Still he must +not lose much time in finding Daly; for one thing, it would be awkward +if the police arrested him while he had the checks in his pocket. All +the same, he meant to visit the Garth, tell Alice he had been +successful, ask is she had news of Lawrence, and try to overcome +Featherstone's suspicions. Then, if Lawrence had not written yet, he +must go back to Canada as soon as he had seen Daly. + +Beyond this Foster's plans were vague; he did not know, for example, +how he could force Daly to keep Lawrence's secret, without promising to +withhold evidence that would bring the man to justice. But he might +find a way and was tired of puzzling about the matter. In a sense, he +had taken a ridiculous line from the beginning and perhaps involved +himself in needless difficulties. His partner, however, must be +protected, and in the meantime he had two objects; to avoid the police +and Graham. + +"Perhaps we had better keep the military road until we strike the North +Tyne," he said to Pete. "Then, if nothing turns up to prevent it, we +might risk stopping for the night at Hexham." + +Having the day before them, they set off at a leisurely pace. The air +was cold but still, and bright sunshine shone upon the tableland, which +rolled north, rising steadily towards distant snow-streaked hills. +Nothing suspicious happened, and late in the afternoon they came down +into the valley of the North Tyne and turned south for Hexham. As they +did so they passed an inn and Foster stopped. They were some distance +from Hexham and he felt hungry, while the inn looked unusually +comfortable. He was tempted to go in and order a meal, but hesitated, +for no very obvious reason. + +"We'll wait and get dinner when we make Hexham," he said, setting off +again. + +A thin wood, separated from the road by a low fence, ran between them +and the river. The light was faint among the trees, the road narrow, +and presently they heard a car coming towards them. It was going very +fast and when it lurched across an opening in the hedge round a bend +Foster put his hand on the fence and swung himself over. Pete followed +silently, but when they stood in the shadow among the dry undergrowth +Foster felt annoyed because he had yielded to a half-instinctive +impulse. He must, of course, be cautious, but there was no reason for +overdoing it. + +Next moment, the car, which swung towards the fence as it took the +curve, dashed past, and Foster set his lips as he saw Graham, who +seemed to be gazing up the road. Then the car vanished among the +trees, and Pete looked at him curiously. + +"Is yon the man frae Newcastle ?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Foster grimly; "I rather think we were just in time. It's +very possible that he'd have run over me if I'd been in the road. An +accident of that kind would have suited him well. But I thought I was +a fool for jumping." + +Pete nodded. "I ken! When ye feel ye must do a thing, it's better +just to do it and think afterwards." Then he raised his hand. "She's +stopping!" + +The throb of the engine suddenly slackened, as if the driver had seen +the inn, and Foster got over the fence. + +"It's lucky we didn't stop for a meal; but, although it may be risky, +I'm going back." + +They kept along the side of the road, where the ground was soft, but +Foster was ready to jump the fence if the car returned; the noise would +give him warning enough. After a few minutes they stopped and waited +in the gloom of a hedge, where they could see the inn. The car stood +in the road and it was empty. Graham had obviously gone in to make +inquiries, and Foster wondered whether anybody had seen him and his +companion pass. He would know when Graham came out, and moved a few +yards farther until he reached a gate, which he opened, ready to slip +through. There was no need to warn Pete now the latter understood +matters. One could trust a poacher to hide himself quickly. + +Foster felt some strain. It was disturbing to find Graham already on +his track and he wondered whether the fellow had been to Carlisle. It +would be awkward if he went to Hexham. After a few minutes two men +came out of the inn and Foster waited anxiously while one cranked the +car, but they drove on when the engine started. Then, as he turned +back, the throbbing stopped again and he beckoned Pete. + +"They don't know you and it's getting dark. Go on and see which way +they take." + +He kept close to the hedge when Pete vanished. The car had stopped +where the military road cut across another that followed the river into +the moors, and Graham apparently did not know which to take. It looked +as if the fellow had ascertained that he was not at Hexham. After a +time he heard the car start. It was not coming back, but he could not +tell which way it went, and waited in the gathering dark for Pete's +return. + +"They'd gone before I cam' up, but I heard her rattling on the hill to +my left han'," he said. + +"That means they've gone west towards Carlisle." + +"There's anither road turns aff and rins north awa' by Bellingham." + +Foster frowned, because this was the road he meant to take next day, +and if his pursuers did so now, it would be because they expected him +to make for the Garth. They were, however, in front, where he would +sooner have them than behind, and he set off down the valley for +Hexham. He found the old Border town, clustering round the tall dark +mass of the abbey, strangely picturesque; the ancient Moot Hall and +market square invited his interest, but he shrank from wandering about +the streets in the dark. Now he had Graham's checks, he must be +careful; moreover his knapsack and leggings made him conspicuous, and +he went to a big red hotel. + +He sent Pete to an inn farther on, because it seemed advisable that +they should not be seen together, although he would have liked to know +the man was about. After dinner, he sat in a quiet nook in the +smoking-room, reading the newspapers and keeping his gloved hand out of +sight, until it was time to go to bed. + + + + +XVIII + +SPADEADAM WASTE + +About eleven o'clock next morning Foster stopped at the top of a hill +and sitting down on a broken wall lighted his pipe. In front, the +undulating military road ran straight across the high tableland to the +west. To the south, a deep hollow, the bottom of which he could not +see, marked the course of the Tyne. Plumes of smoke rose out of the +valley and trailed languidly across the sky, for the river flowed past +well-cultivated fields, old-fashioned villages, and rows of sooty +cottages that clustered round pithead towers. Human activity had set +its stamp upon the sheltered dale, alike in scenes of quiet pastoral +beauty and industrial ugliness. + +It was different to the north, where the shaggy moors rolled back in +bleak, dark ridges. There were no white farmsteads here; one looked +across a lonely waste that had sheltered the wolf and the lurking Pict +when the Romans manned the Wall, and long afterwards offered a refuge +to outlaws and cattle thieves. Foster's way led through this +desolation, but his map indicated a road of a kind that ran north to +the head of Liddel. He must decide whether he should take it or plunge +into the wilds. + +Since Graham was in front of him, he had probably gone to Liddesdale, +with the object of finding if Foster was at the Garth. If he did not +come back by the road he had taken, he would watch the railway that +roughly followed it across the moors from Hexham, which seemed to close +the latter to Foster and make it dangerous for him to go near the Garth +at all. Nevertheless he meant to see Alice before he looked for Daly, +and he turned to Pete. + +"On the whole, I'd sooner keep off the road. Is there a way across the +heath to the upper Liddel?" + +"I wouldna' say there's a way," Pete answered with a dry smile. "But I +can take ye ower the Spadeadam waste, if ye do not mind the soft flows +and some verra rough traiveling. Then I'll no' promise that we'll win +farther than Bewcastle to-night, an' if there's much water in the +burns, we'll maybe no' get there." + +They struck across a rushy field, crept through a ragged hedge, and +came out upon rough pasture that gradually merged into the heath. A +green bank and a straggling line of stones, some fallen in large masses +and some standing two or three feet high, presently stretched across +their path, and Foster stopped for a few moments. The bank and +moat-like hollow he looked down upon marked the _vallum_; the squared +stones, to which the lime still clung, apparently undetachable, the +_murus_. He was looking at the great rampart a Roman emperor had +built. He understood that it was higher and less damaged farther west +and would have liked to follow it, but he had something else to think +about than antiquities. + +The heath got rougher when they left the wall. Spongy moss grew among +the ling that caught their feet, and the ground began to rise. Looking +at the sun, Foster saw they were not taking as northerly a line as he +had expected, but the back of a bold ridge rose between them and the +west and he supposed Pete meant to follow its other side. They stopped +to eat the food they had brought where a stream had worn away a hollow +in a bank. The sun, striking the wall of peaty soil behind them, was +pleasantly warm. It was a calm day, with slowly-drifting clouds, and +gray shadows streaked the wide, brown waste. + +There was no house in sight and only in one place a few scattered dots +that looked like sheep. Getting out his map, Foster noted that they +were crossing the high neck where the Pennine range slopes down to meet +the southern spurs of the Cheviots. He had seen nothing in Canada +wilder or more desolate than this bleak tableland. + +In the afternoon they toiled up the rise he had noticed in the +distance, winding in and out among soft places and hummocks of the +peat, but when they came to the top there was not the dip to a valley +he had expected. The ground was rougher than before, and the moor +rolled on, rising and falling in heathy undulations. By degrees, +however, it became obvious that they had crossed the water-shed and +were descending, for streams that increased in size crossed their path. +So far, none were deep, but the ravines they ran through began to seam +the gradual slope and Foster understood Pete's remark that something +depended on there not being much water in the burns. + +Looking back after a time, he saw the crest of the moor run up behind +them against the sky, and the next ravine they came to was awkward to +climb down, while he was wet to the knees when he crossed the burn. A +mile farther on, he reached another that was worse and they had to work +back along the crumbling sides of its channel to find a place to cross. +After this their progress was marked by erratic curves, and Foster was +soon splashed with black peat-mud and green slime. By and by they came +to a broad level, shut in by a ridge on its other side, and picked +their way carefully between clumps of rushes and curious round holes +filled with dark-colored water. The ground was very soft and walking +became a toil, but Pete held steadily to his winding course and Foster, +although getting tired, did not lag behind. + +They were some time crossing the bog and when they reached the foot of +the rise, which ran in a long line between them and the west, the light +got dimmer suddenly. A yellow glow that seemed to come from low down +flushed the sky, but the rough slope was dark and the hummocks and +gullies on its side were losing their distinctness. Foster felt +somewhat daunted by the prospect of pushing across the waste after +darkness fell, and doggedly kept level with Pete as they went up the +hill obliquely, struggling through tangled grass and wiry heath. When +they reached the summit, he saw they were on the western edge of the +tableland but some distance below its highest point Though it was +broken by rolling elevations, the ground ran gradually down to an +extensive plain where white mist lay in the hollows. A belt of saffron +light lingered on the horizon, with a half-moon in a streak of green +above, and one or two twinkling points showed, faint and far off, in +the valley. + +"Yon," said Pete, "is Bewcastle dale, and I ken where we'll find a +welcome when we cross the water o' Line. But I'm thinking we'll keep +the big flow in our left han'." + +Instead of descending towards the distant farmsteads, he followed the +summit of the rise, and Foster, who understood that a flow is a soft +bog, plodded after him without objecting. The heather was tangled and +rough, and hid the stones he now and then stumbled against, but it was +better to hurry than be left with a long distance to cover in the dark. +Indeed, as he caught his feet in the wiry stems and fell into holes, he +frankly admitted the absurdity of his adventure, a sense of which +amused him now and then. He was in a highly civilized country, there +were railways and telegraph lines not far off, and he was lurking like +an ancient outlaw among the bogs! It looked as if there must be better +ways of meeting his difficulties, but he could not see one. Anyhow, he +had determined to save his partner, and now, if his plans were hazy and +not very wise, it was too late to make a sweeping change. + +After a time Pete stopped abruptly, and then dropping into a clump of +heather, pointed backwards down the long slope on their right hand. +Foster's sight was good, but he admitted that the poacher's was better, +because it was a minute or two before he saw any ground for alarm. +Although there was some light in the sky, the rough descent was dark +and it was only by degrees he distinguished something that moved across +the heath, below and some distance away. Then he realized that it was +a man, and another became faintly visible. They might be shepherds or +sportsmen, but it was significant that there were two and they seemed +to be ascending obliquely, as if to cut his line of march. He +remembered that as he and Pete had kept the crest of the ridge their +figures must have shown, small but sharp, against the fading light. + +"It's suspicious, but I wouldn't like to say they're on our trail," he +remarked. + +"Ye'll soon ken. Watch the bit scaur." + +Foster saw a faint dark line down the hill, and supposed it was a +gully, torn out of the peat. It ran nearly straight up, crossing the +strangers' indirect course to the summit, and would make a very rough +means of ascent, but if they entered it the men would be out of sight. +He blamed himself for not looking back before but had felt safe in the +wilds, and even now it was hard to believe that the men were following +him. Straining his eyes, he watched them move towards the gully, and +set his lips when they disappeared. It was plain that they meant to +get as close as possible before they were seen. + +He did not move for the next few moments, but his brain was busy. +Graham might have come back down the north road in his car and +afterwards taken to the moors, but it was difficult to understand how +he had found Foster's track. Chance, however, sometimes favored one in +a curious way; the fellow might have found out that he had left the +road and expected him to stop the night in Bewcastle dale. Since +Foster had Pete with him, he was not, in one sense, afraid of Graham. +Although the fellow was, no doubt, dangerous, he was not likely to +force an equal fight. The risk would come if Graham found him alone +and at a disadvantage, when Foster thought it would go hard with him. +This was why he could not have the men on his track, watching for the +right moment to strike. It was, however, possible that the strangers +were police, and he lay in the heath with knitted brows until Pete +touched him. + +"They wouldna' find us easy if we keepit still, but I'm no' for +spending the night among the bents," he said. "I'm thinking we'll try +the big flow and lose them in the mire." + +He rose and crossing the summit started down the incline, while Foster +followed as fast as he could. It would be some time before the others +reached the spot they had left, but the light of the sinking moon +touched the face of the hill and as long as they were moving their +figures could be seen. When they reached the bottom Pete headed west, +and presently stopped at the edge of a wide level space. Tufts of wild +cotton gleamed lividly in the moonlight, and here and there a sparkle +marked a pool, but, farther on, a trail of mist stretched across the +bog. It did not look inviting, and when Pete stopped for a few moments +Foster heard the water bubble through the wet moss in which his feet +sank. + +"The black burn rins on the ither side, and there's just one place +where ye can cross," Pete said thoughtfully. "An old shieling stands +on a bit dry knowe near the middle o' the flow, and I wouldna' say but +we might spend the night there, if it was needful." + +Foster left it to him, although he was not much attracted by the +thought of spending the night in the bog, and Pete moved forward +cautiously. He seemed to be following a track, because he went +straight ahead, tramping through clumps of rushes, and splashing into +pools. Foster noted that the latter were shallow, though he had fallen +into bog-holes that were deep. They tried to move silently, but they +made some noise, and he felt relieved when they plunged into a belt of +mist that would hide them from their pursuers. By the look of the +ground to left and right, he imagined that a stranger who lost the +track would have serious trouble in regaining firm soil, + +When they came out of the mist, however, he began to find the silence +daunting. On the hills one could hear the grouse and plover crying and +the murmur of running water, but an oppressive quietness brooded over +the flow. Nor could he see much except rushes, treacherous moss, and +dully-glimmering pools. By and by, however, a dark mass loomed through +the haze and Pete stopped and looked back. + +For a moment or two Foster heard nothing, and then there was a splash +and a noise, as if somebody was floundering through the rushes. The +sounds were nearer than he had thought possible, and he glanced at his +companion. + +"They're no' traiveling badly and they've keepit the track so far," +Pete remarked. "Maybe ye wouldn'a care to try their speed for the next +two or three miles?" + +"Certainly not," said Foster; "that is, if there's another way." + +"Weel," said Pete, "they're surely nearer than I thought, and might see +where we crossed the burn. There's nought for't but the shieling on +the knowe." + +He went on, and the dark mass ahead grew into a rocky mound covered +with small trees. They were birches, because Foster saw their +drooping, lacelike twigs above the low mist; and the indistinct object +among their stems was the shieling. It was obvious that the hut would +catch the eyes of the men behind if they came close enough, and he +stopped where the ground rose. + +"We'll no' gang in yet," said Pete. + +They skirted the mound, which was larger than Foster thought and broken +by out-cropping rock, and when a thick screen of the birches rose +between them and the building, crept into a nook among the stones. +Foster imagined that the others might search for half the night without +finding them unless they were lucky. Then Pete remarked in a meaning +tone: "There's just the twa, and I hae a good stick." + +Foster smiled. He was tired, wet, and savage, and would have liked to +confront Graham and settle their differences by force; but the matter +could not be treated in this primitive way. He could not shoot the +men, and would be no better off if he overpowered and threw them in the +bog. They would know where he was and would follow him as close as was +safe, while he wanted to shake them off and make them uncertain whether +they were on his track or not. Besides, his antagonists might avoid a +conflict. + +"The thing's too complicated to be straightened out by knocking +somebody down," he said. "But I'm glad I'm not here alone." + +In the meantime, the others were getting nearer, for Foster heard them +splash through the wet moss and stumble among the rushy grass. They +were walking fast, which indicated that they thought themselves some +distance behind the fugitives; but stopped when they saw the birches, +and then came on again cautiously. Foster could not see them until +their blurred figures appeared among the trees. So long as he kept +still there was little chance of his being found. + +The moonlight filtered through the low mist that rose half-way up the +thin birch trunks on the top of the mound, but the shieling stood on a +lower level, and when they went towards it the men's forms got very +indistinct. They vanished, but he knew they had gone in when a pale +stream of light flickered among the trees. + +"A polisman's trick," Pete said in a low voice. "A poacher would not +ha' let ye see the light." + +Foster felt that he must find out who the men were. The thing was +risky, but it was worth trying, and he crawled out from behind the +stones. The rock was rough and wet; his hand plunged into some water +and he scraped his knee, but he made a few yards and then stopped and +lay flat as the light went out. It looked as if the others had heard +him, and he lowered his head until his face was buried in withered +fern. There was silence for a few moments, and then his nerves tingled +as he heard steps; the men, he thought, were coming out to look for +him. He did not move, however, and the footsteps got farther off. By +and by there was a sharp rustle and he cautiously looked up. Two hazy +figures showed among the trees, but it was plain that they were going +away. + +It was impossible to follow them without being heard, and he waited +until Pete joined him. So far as he could judge by the noise they +made, the men were hurrying across the bog. + +"They're awa', but I wouldna' say they'll no' come back," Pete +remarked. "If they dinna' strike the right place, they'll no' find it +easy to cross the burn. She rins in a deep cut an' the bottom's saft." + +"What's likely to happen if they get off the track?" + +"Weel," said Pete, with a chuckle, "it's verra possible they'll stop in +the flow till morning, maybe up to the knees in mire. I dinna' think +there's much reason they should get in deeper, but they might." + +"But suppose they find the way and cross the burn?" + +"Then, if they ken the dale, I would expect them to haud a bit south +for Shopford, where they would find an inn, or maybe west by the +Clattering ford to Canonbie. If they dinna' ken, it's likely they'll +hae to sleep behind a dyke. Noo, however, we'll turn back and gang up +the dale." + +They recrossed the bog and skirted the moor for some time, after which +they went down a long slope and reached a level space of grass and +heath. They followed it north until a light shone ahead and the +barking of dogs indicated that they were approaching a farm. Pete went +in first, and Foster did not know what explanation he gave, but the +farmer told him to sit down when he entered the big, flagged kitchen. +He was not surprised when a woman who came in looked at him curiously, +because he was wet and splashed, and bits of fern and heather stuck to +his clothes, but his hosts asked no questions and presently gave him +supper. + +Soon afterwards he was shown a comfortable room and went to bed, +leaving Pete with the others in the kitchen. Foster was glad to feel +he could be trusted not to tell them too much, although he would, no +doubt, have to satisfy their curiosity to some extent. A hint went a +long way with the reserved Borderers. + + + + +XIX + +ALICE'S CONFIDENCE + +Foster got up late and after breakfast sat by the kitchen fire, +studying his map. He imagined that his pursuers, believing him to be +in front, had crossed the low ground towards the cultivated valley of +the Esk, where they would not have trouble in finding shelter for the +night. Then, if they thought he was making for the Garth, the railway +would take them up Liddesdale. + +He meant to visit the Garth, although this might prove dangerous if +Graham and his companion watched the neighborhood. So long as Pete was +close at hand, the risk might not be great, but Pete could not be with +him always and he thought Graham would stick at nothing to get his +papers back. One of the gang had killed Fred Hulton, and Foster did +not suppose the others would hesitate about getting rid of him, if it +could be done without putting the police on their track. A shot or +stab in the dark would effectually prevent his betraying them, and it +might be made to look like an accident, or perhaps as if he had killed +himself. Foster, as a rule, distrusted anything that looked abnormal +or theatrical, but admitted that he might be in some danger. For all +that, he was going. There was no need for an early start, because he +did not want to arrive in daylight and the distance was not great. +Then he meant to avoid the high roads, and after a talk with Pete +picked out his route across the hills. It was eleven o'clock when they +set off, and they spent an hour sheltering behind a dyke while a +snowstorm broke upon the moor. The snow was wet and did not lie, but +the soaked grass and ling afterwards clung about their feet and made +walking laborious. The sky was gray and lowering and there was a +bitter wind, but they pushed on across the high moors, and when the +light was going saw a gap in a long ridge in front. Foster thought +this marked the way down to the Garth. + +It was nearly dark when they reached the gap, through which a brown +stream flowed, and he could see nothing except dim hillsides and the +black trough of the hollow. Pete said they must follow the water, and +they stumbled downhill among the stones beside the burn. As they +descended, a valley opened up and a rough track began near a sheepfold. +Although it was dark, Foster saw that they were now crossing rushy +pasture, and they had to stop every now and then to open a gate. The +stream was swelling with tributaries from the hills and began to roar +among the stones. Birches clustered in the hollows, the track became a +road, and at length a group of lights twinkled across a fir wood and he +knew the Garth was not far ahead. + +Now he had got there, he almost wished he had kept away. He was not +sure of his welcome and did not know what line to take if Featherstone +showed his doubts. For one thing, he did not mean to talk about his +adventures in Newcastle and on Spadeadam waste. The affair was too +theatrical for the unimaginative country gentleman to believe, and for +that matter, when Foster went up the drive past the well-kept +shrubberies and lawn he found it hard to realize that he had been +hunted by determined men and was now perhaps in danger of his life. +Featherstone, living in his quiet house, could not be expected to +credit such a romantic tale. Graham's letters would to some extent +corroborate his statements, but not unless Featherstone accepted his +surmises as correct; but Foster admitted that after all pride was his +strongest motive for saying nothing. If Featherstone distrusted him, +he must continue to do so until Foster's efforts to help Lawrence were +successful. + +He braced his courage when he rang the bell, but John, who let him in, +did not seem to find anything remarkable in his choice of a companion. +Pete looked very big and rather truculent in his rough, wet clothes, +but he was not embarrassed. + +"This is a friend of mine," said Foster. "I should be obliged if you +will look after him." + +John showed no surprise at his statement. "Very good, sir; I think I +can promise that. Will you give me your coat, sir?" Then he beckoned +Pete. "If you please, come with me." + +He took Pete away and Foster wondered with some amusement what they +thought of one another. A few moments afterwards Alice came in, +dressed with a curious elegant plainness that he thought suited her. +Alice needed no ornaments, and fripperies would have struck a jarring +note. Foster sometimes called her stately, though he felt that this +was not quite what he meant. She had a certain quiet grace, touched +with pride, that he had never noticed about anybody else, although he +admitted that his knowledge of girls like Alice Featherstone was small. +Now, however, she was not as calm as usual, for her eyes had a keen +sparkle and her look was animated. He wondered whether he could +believe this was because she was glad to see him. + +"You have not been long," she said with a welcoming smile. "Have you +succeeded?" + +"On the whole, I think so," Foster answered modestly. + +"That's splendid!" she exclaimed and he could not doubt the approval in +her voice. It sounded as if she meant to applaud him as well as show +her satisfaction with the consequences of his exploit. + +"Well, I haven't got very far yet, although I imagine I'm on the right +line. But have you heard from Lawrence?" + +"No," she replied and her satisfaction vanished. Indeed, Foster was +somewhat puzzled by the change. "I must confess that I'm getting +anxious now." + +Foster nodded, "Then I must go and look for him as soon as I've had a +reckoning with Daly." + +"Daly has been here----" she said and stopped as Mrs. Featherstone came +in. + +The latter looked at Foster rather curiously, but gave him her hand and +seemed to take it for granted that he meant to resume his stay. She +said her husband had gone to dine with a neighbor and would not be back +for an hour or two, and then let Foster go to his room. + +Dinner was served soon after he came down, but while they talked freely +about matters of no importance Foster noted a subtle difference in Mrs. +Featherstone's manner. She was not less friendly than usual, but she +asked no questions about his journey and avoided mentioning Lawrence. +It looked as if she knew her husband's doubts, but Foster somehow +thought she did not altogether share them. In the meantime, he tried +to act as if their relations were perfectly normal, but found it hard, +and now and then glanced at the clock. It was a long way to the +nearest inn and he wondered when Featherstone would return, because he +could not accept the hospitality of a man who distrusted him. + +When dinner was over, he went with the others to the drawing-room and +did his best to engage them in careless talk. Alice supported him when +his efforts flagged, as they sometimes did, and once or twice gave him +a half-amused, half-sympathetic glance. He did not know if he was +grateful for this or not, but saw that she knew what he felt. If Mrs. +Featherstone guessed, she made no sign; she treated him with the +graciousness one would expect from a well-bred hostess, but went no +further. + +It was a relief when Featherstone came in. He made a little abrupt +movement when he saw Foster, to whom he did not give his hand. The +latter thought he looked disturbed. + +"I am sorry I was not at home when you arrived," Featherstone said. +"Still, I had no reason for thinking you would be here." + +"In fact, you were rather surprised to see me," Foster suggested. + +Featherstone looked at him as if he thought he had been blunter than +was necessary, but replied: "Well, I suppose that's true, but I have no +doubt Mrs. Featherstone has made up for my absence, and since you have +come, we would like to talk to you about Lawrence. I dare say you will +give us a few minutes." + +He opened the door as Mrs. Featherstone rose, and Foster went with them +to the library, where Featherstone sat down at a big table. It was +here he wrote his business letters and occasionally attended to +magisterial duties, and Foster thought this was why he had chosen the +place. It, no doubt, gave him a feeling of authority. Mrs. +Featherstone sat by the fire, but Foster was surprised when Alice came +in. Featherstone glanced at her with a frown. + +"It might have been better if you had stayed downstairs and left this +matter to your mother and me," he remarked and waited, as if he +expected his wife to support him, but she did not. + +"No," said Alice; "I am beginning to get anxious about Lawrence, and if +Mr. Foster can tell us anything fresh, I ought to hear it. But I don't +think he can. I believe he told us all he knew before." + +Featherstone looked disturbed by her boldness, but Foster felt a +thrill. Alice was on his side and meant to show the others her +confidence in his honesty. He wondered what Featherstone would do, and +was not surprised when he made a gesture of resignation. Foster knew +his comrade well, and imagined that Featherstone was very like +Lawrence. The latter was physically brave, but sometimes gave way to +moral pressure and vacillated when he should be firm. Both showed a +certain lack of rude stamina; they were, so to speak, too fine in the +grain. Foster, however, had other things to think about, and indeed +felt rather like a culprit brought before his judges. Then Mrs. +Featherstone relieved the unpleasant tension. + +"We have not heard from Lawrence yet and do not understand it. Can you +do anything to set our fears at rest?" + +"I'm sorry I can't," said Foster, and seeing he must deal with the +matter boldly, asked Featherstone: "Have you any ground for believing I +have not been frank?" + +"It is an awkward question. You are our guest and my son sent you to +us. I must add that we had begun to like you for your own sake; but I +have grounds for supposing that you kept something back. To begin +with, Daly, whom you told us you meant to mislead, was here again +yesterday." + +"Did you give way to his demands? It's important that I should know." + +Featherstone hesitated, and Foster saw where his suspicions led, but +for the next moment or two was absorbed by speculations about Daly's +visit. Then Alice looked at her father with a smile. + +"You can tell Mr. Foster. It's obvious that if he was in league with +the fellow he would have no need to ask." + +"I did not give way," said Featherstone. "He must have seen that I was +determined, because after the first I thought he did not press me very +hard." + +"Ah!" said Foster; "that was curious, but we'll let it go in the +meantime. I suppose there is something else?" + +"Since you left, the police have paid me another visit. They asked +some rather strange questions, besides inquiring where you were." + +"Which you couldn't tell them!" + +"I didn't know," Featherstone rejoined pointedly, and Foster saw that +Alice had said nothing about his recent visit. She gave him an +inquiring glance, as if she wondered why he did not state his reasons +for going to Newcastle, but he looked as unobservant as he could. He +could not signal her, because while this might escape his host's notice +he was afraid of Mrs. Featherstone. + +"Well," he said, "it might be better if you, so to speak, formulated +your suspicions and made a definite charge. After all, I'm entitled to +hear it." + +"I do so most unwillingly, but feel an explanation is needed. To begin +with, we had one short letter from my son, stating that he could not +come home but you would tell us how he was getting on. This was all; +he said nothing about Daly, or his starting east with you. You arrived +with his portmanteau and what I now think is a rather curious story. +Then, after Daly wrote, you suggested an extraordinary plan, which, as +the fellow came here, has not worked very well. Besides, the police +have made inquiries about you and there's something mysterious about +your journeys. I do not think they were all intended to mislead Daly." + +"All this is true," Foster admitted. "But you haven't stated the +conclusions you draw from it." + +"The conclusions are vague but disturbing. Lawrence trusted you and, +you tell us, started with you for a place he did not intend to reach. +Since then he has vanished. It is possible that you have deceived both +him and us." + +"That's rather absurd," Alice remarked. "I really don't think Mr. +Foster would make a very dangerous plotter, and you admitted that +Lawrence trusted him." + +"I did," Featherstone rejoined sharply, as if he resented the +interruption. "Still I don't see your argument." + +"She means that Lawrence is not a simpleton," Mrs. Featherstone +interposed. "For myself, I doubt if Mr. Foster could deceive him." + +"We'll go on," Featherstone resumed, turning to Foster. "There was a +very mysterious affair at Gardner's Crossing shortly before you left +and some valuable bonds were missing." + +Foster's face got red, but he laughed. "This is too much, sir! If +your suspicions went so far, why did you not tell the police?" + +"Ah!" said Featherstone with some awkwardness, "there you have me at a +disadvantage! While Daly has the power to injure Lawrence, I must keep +the police in the dark." He paused and added: "I cannot say I believed +you reckoned on this." + +"Thank you," said Foster, but Alice broke in: "Why don't you tell my +father why you went to Newcastle?" + +Featherstone gave her a surprised glance and then turned to Foster. +"It looks as if my daughter were better informed than I. There is +obviously something I do not know about." + +"There is; but I must ask Miss Featherstone to respect my confidence in +the meantime," Foster answered, and getting up, stood silent for a few +moments, resting his hand on his chair. + +He saw restrained curiosity in Mrs. Featherstone's face and her +husband's anger, while he thought Alice knew how significant the line +she had taken looked. She had boldly admitted that he knew her well +enough to trust her with his secrets, and declared herself on his side. +In the meantime, he was conscious of a strain that he thought the +others felt and was sorry for Featherstone. He could not resent the +man's anxiety about his son. For all that, he did not mean to tell him +why he had gone to Newcastle. It would not make a plausible tale. + +"I must own that things look bad for me," he said. "I can't offer any +explanation that would satisfy you and could not expect you to take my +word that I mean well. All I can do is to frighten off Daly and then +find Lawrence, and I'm going to try." + +"It doesn't matter much about Daly now. But if you can find Lawrence, +you will clear yourself." + +Alice turned to her father with an angry sparkle in her eyes. "That's +a very grudging concession for us to make. We will not blame Mr. +Foster when he has proved that it's impossible for him to be guilty!" + +The tension was too great for any of them to be much surprised by her +outbreak and Featherstone said dully, "It's logical." + +"Logical!" Alice exclaimed in a scornful tone. "Do you expect Mr. +Foster to be satisfied with that, after what he has borne and the risks +he has run for us? Now, when things look bad for him, is the time for +you to show your trust and knowledge of character." + +"You imply that your judgment is better than mine?" Featherstone +rejoined, but without heat. + +"I know an honest man," Alice said quietly, with some color in her face. + +There was silence for a few moments and by an effort of self-control +Foster kept his face unmoved. He did not mean to let the others see +the exultant satisfaction the girl's statement had given him. +Featherstone brooded with knitted brows and a troubled look. Then he +said: + +"You will understand, Mr. Foster, that this has been a painful +interview to my wife and me. You were our guest and my son's friend; +but I do not know what has happened and we have no news of him. If you +can bring him back, I will ask your forgiveness for all that I have +said." + +"I will do my best and get to work to-morrow," Foster answered. Then +he bowed to Mrs. Featherstone and Alice, and the girl gave him a look +that made his heart beat as he went out of the room. + +Shortly afterwards he entered the hall, wearing his damp walking +clothes, and met Mrs. Featherstone, who protested against his leaving +them at night. Foster answered that he had no time to lose and +beckoning Pete, who was waiting, went out. Alice had not come down to +bid him good-by, but after all he had not expected this; the meeting +would not have been free from embarrassment. He had much to say to +her, but must wait until he had kept his promise. + +He did not blame Featherstone and rather sympathized with him, but +could not stay at the Garth or come back there until he had cleared up +the mystery about his comrade's silence. Pete did not grumble much +when they went down the drive, but said he had no friends in the +neighborhood and it was a long way to the nearest inn. + + + + +XX + +THE RIGHT TRACK + +It was a clear night and although the moon was low its light touched +the wet road as Foster walked down the dale. He had much to think +about and tried to fix his mind on his main object. It would have been +delightful to dwell upon Alice's interposition on his behalf, but he +must not attach too much importance to this yet; after all she might +have been actuated mainly by a love of justice. Besides, the sooner he +kept his promise, the sooner he would be able to ask her what she had +meant. + +He must find Daly and thought it significant that the fellow's attempt +at extortion had not been very determined. If Featherstone was right +about this, it indicated that Daly suspected that Lawrence was beyond +his reach and had not been at the Garth. It was possible that he had +found out how he had been misled and meant to look for his victim in +Canada. Foster wondered whether he would go without his money, or if +he had received a share of the plunder before, since the circular check +was not for a large sum. In any case, it was lucky that Daly had +visited the Garth when he did, because if he had waited another day, he +might have met Graham, which would have been awkward. + +After some thought, Foster decided to act on the supposition that Daly +would return to Canada. Then, dismissing the matter for the time, he +speculated about the possibility of Graham's lurking in the +neighborhood and began to look ahead. A stone dyke, broken in places, +ran between the winding road and the stream it followed; on the other +side, which lay in shadow, thin birches straggled up a steep hill. The +moon was low and would soon sink behind the trees, when it would be +very dark. When he looked back he could not see the lights of the +Garth. He was on the road to the station, and remembered that there +was a train from the south in the evening. + +Taking out his watch, he calculated that anybody who left the station +on foot when the train arrived might be expected to reach the Garth in +the next quarter of an hour. This was disturbing, but he saw nothing +to cause him alarm as he went on. Now and then a rabbit, startled by +his footsteps, ran across the road, and once or twice an owl hooted as +it fluttered overhead. The river splashed among the stones and +sometimes the shadows moved as a puff of wind came up the valley; but +that was all. Still Foster quickened his pace; it was some distance to +the village where he knew of an inn, and he wanted to get there before +the people went to bed. He would not admit that he shrank from being +left in the dark when the moon sank. + +By and by Pete stopped to relight his pipe and uttered an exclamation +when he put his hand in his pocket. + +"I hae lost the guid pooch ye gave me at Hexham," he said. "I mind I +filled my pipe by the big thorn where the wire fence stops, and the +moon's on the road. If ye'll bide or gang on slowly, I'll rin back." + +"Never mind it. I'll give you another." + +"Na," said Pete. "If ye had been used with an auld tin and had a +smairt pooch for the first time, ye wouldna' lea' it in the road. +Besides, it was fu' o' a better tobacco than I often smoke." + +Foster would sooner have kept him, but was unwilling to admit that he +did not like to be alone. It was not very far to the thorn tree and +Pete would soon overtake him. He went on, but did not loiter, and +noted how his footsteps echoed along the edge of a wood ahead. In +fact, the noise he made rather jarred his nerves, but the grass by the +roadside was hummocky and wet. The road was dark beside the wood, for +the moon was near the tops of the black firs, but there were gaps +through which the silver light shone down. + +As he passed the first of the trees he heard a rattle of wings and +stopped abruptly. Wood-pigeons were fluttering among the branches, and +if he had not disturbed them, there was somebody in the wood. After a +few moments, the sound died away, but he stood listening. He could not +hear Pete coming, and was sorry he had let him go; the road looked +lonely, and he knew there was no house for some distance. Still, if he +had not frightened the pigeons, it might be unsafe to stay where he +was, and he did not mean to turn back. It was better to be cautious, +but he must not give his imagination rein. + +Bracing his courage, he went on, a little faster than before but +without hurrying, and for two or three minutes heard no fresh noise. +The wood ran along the road for perhaps a quarter of a mile and he was +near the middle of it when there was a sharp report and something +flicked against the wall behind him. He sprang aside instinctively, +and then running forward smashed through the rotten fence and plunged +into the wood. The nervous shrinking he had felt had gone. Now he was +confronted with a danger that was not imaginary, he was conscious of +savage anger and a fierce desire to come to grips with his treacherous +antagonist. His fury was greater because of his previous fear. + +The wood was dark and thick. Branches brushed against him and hindered +his progress, crawling brambles caught his feet. He could hear nothing +except the noise he made, and as the fit of rage passed away his +caution returned. He was putting himself at a disadvantage, because +his lurking enemy could hear him and would no doubt try another shot if +he came near enough. Stopping behind a fir trunk, with his finger on +the trigger of the Browning pistol, he listened. At first no sound +came out of the dark, but he presently heard a rustle some distance +off. There was another man in the wood beside the fellow who had fired +at him, but so long as he kept still and the others did not know where +he was, he had an advantage over them. They might expose themselves, +and he was a good shot. + +He would have liked to wait, but reflected that if he killed or +disabled somebody, he would have to justify his action, and he had +compromising papers in his pocket. He did not want to destroy the +checks or tell his story to the police yet. Then he noticed that the +rustling was getting farther away, as if the man was pushing through +the wood towards the moor behind it, and he turned back +half-reluctantly to the road. After getting over the fence, he kept on +the wet grass, and had nearly reached the end of the wood when he heard +somebody running behind him. The moon was now behind the firs and +their dark shadow stretched from fence to wall. It looked as if Pete +had heard the shot and was coming to his help, but Foster kept on until +he was nearly out of the wood, and then stopped, standing against the +fence, a yard or two back from where the moonlight fell upon the road. +There was no use in running an unnecessary risk. + +The steps got nearer; he heard somebody breathing hard, and a figure +appeared in the gloom. Then Foster thrust the pistol into his pocket, +for the man who came into the moonlight was Gordon, whom he had met at +the Edinburgh hotel. + +"Mr. Foster!" he exclaimed breathlessly, but Foster thought he was not +surprised, and sitting on the fence took out a cigarette as calmly as +he could. He had Graham's checks and must be careful. + +"Yes," he said. "I didn't expect to see you." + +"I imagine it's lucky that you knew me," Gordon remarked, rather dryly. +"Well, perhaps we ought to have stopped you at the other end of the +wood." + +"You were watching it then?" + +"Both ends. It's obvious now that we should have watched the middle." + +"Ah," said Foster thoughtfully; "then you knew somebody was hiding +among the trees?" + +"We thought it very possible." + +"Well, you know I was shot at, but I imagine the fellow got away. Do +you mean to let him go?" + +Gordon laughed. "My friends tell me I'm getting fat, and I'm certainly +not so vigorous as I was. Besides, it's not my part of the business to +chase a suspected person across the hills, and I have men able to do it +better than I can. But you stopped as you entered the wood. Did you +expect to be shot at?" + +"I thought it very possible," Foster answered dryly. + +"A fair retort! You were shot at. Were you nearly hit?" + +"I believe the fellow would have got me if he'd used a gun instead of a +pistol; but the former would, of course, have been a conspicuous thing +to carry about." + +"That's true," Gordon agreed. "But, after escaping, why did you stop +here and run the risk again?" + +Foster pondered. There was no sign of Pete, but he thought the latter +could be trusted to elude the police, and did not want to let Gordon +know he had felt it necessary to provide himself with a bodyguard. +Something of this kind would be obvious if he stated that he was +waiting for a companion. + +"Well," he said, "it's annoying to be shot at, and when I heard +somebody running I thought I might catch the fellow off his guard. You +see, I had already gone into the wood to look for him." + +"But you must have known that it would have been very rash for the man +who fired the shot to run noisily down the middle of the road." + +"I suppose I was rather excited and didn't remember that," Foster +replied. + +Gordon said nothing for a few moments and Foster saw that he had been +fencing with him. He had admitted that he had partly expected to be +attacked, and the other knew of the danger to which he had been +exposed. This was puzzling; but it was lucky the man had not asked his +reasons for fearing an attack. Foster believed he had not omitted to +do so from carelessness. + +Then Gordon said, "I must try to find out what my men are doing. Where +are you going to stop tonight?" + +Foster told him and he nodded. "I know the inn and will call there as +soon as I can. Leave your address if you go before I come." + +He went away up the road and Foster, setting off again, had gone about +a mile when he heard steps behind him. Soon after he stopped Pete came +up. + +"Ye're no' hurt?" he asked. + +Foster said he was uninjured, and when he asked where Pete had been the +latter grinned. + +"Up the hill and sitting in a wet peat-hag. There was a polisman who +ran better than I thought an' it wasn'a a'thegither easy getting clear +o' him." + +"But why did the policeman run after you?" + +"Yon's a thing I dinna' exactly ken, but when I was coming doon the +road I heard a shot and saw ye break intil the wood. Weel, I thought +the back o' it was the place for me, and I was follying the dyke, quiet +and saircumspect, when a man jumped ower and took the heather. He had +a stairt, but the brae was steep, and I was thinking it would no' be +long before I had a grup o' him when the polis cam' ower the dyke +behind. Then I thought it might be better if I didna' interfere, and +made for a bit glen that rins doon the fell. When I saw my chance I +slippit oot and found the peat-hag." + +Foster knitted his brows. It looked as if Pete had drawn the police +off his antagonist's track, which was unfortunate; but Gordon had +evidently been watching the fellow, who would now have enough to do to +make his escape. How Gordon came to be watching him required some +thought, but Foster need not puzzle about this in the meantime. That +Graham or his accomplice had thought it worth while to risk shooting +him in order to recover the checks showed Foster that he was on the +right track. Their importance did not depend on their money value; +Graham meant to get them back because they were evidence of a crime. +It was satisfactory to think there was not much probability of the +fellow's meeting Daly, who would have an additional reason for leaving +the country if he heard what had happened. + +After walking some distance, he came to a straggling village, and +although he had to knock for a few minutes was admitted to the inn. +Somewhat to his surprise, Gordon did not follow him, and finding that +there was a train to Carlisle next morning, he gave the name of a hotel +there and went to the station. He had done what Gordon told him, but +did not mean to stop at the hotel long. + +As the train ran down Liddesdale he sat in a corner, thinking. The +fast Canadian Northern boats sailed from Bristol, and Daly might choose +that port if he were suspicious and meant to steal away; but Liverpool +was nearer and there were more steamers to Montreal. Foster thought he +could leave this matter until he reached Carlisle and got a newspaper +that gave the steamship sailings. In the meantime he must decide what +to do with Pete, and admitted that he would be sorry to part with the +man, although he would not be of much help in the towns, and their +companionship might make him conspicuous. + +"I almost think I had better let you go at Carlisle," he said. + +Pete looked rather hard at him, and then asked: "Have I earned my +money?" + +"Yes," said Foster, "you have earned it well." + +"Then, if ye have nae great objection, I'd like to take pairt in the +shape o' a third-class passage to Western Canada, where ye come from. +I hear it's a gran' country." + +"It's a hard country," Foster answered. "You had better not be rash. +There's not much poaching yonder; the game, for the most part, belongs +to the State. and the laws about it are very strict." + +"There's no' that much profit in poaching here; particular when ye pay +a smart fine noo and then. For a' that, I wouldna' say but it's better +than mony anither job, if ye're lucky." + +"You ought to make a good hill shepherd." + +"Verra true, an' I might make a good plooman, and get eighteen +shillings or a pound a week for either. But what's yon for a man's +work frae break o' day till dark? An', mind ye, it's work that needs +skill." + +"Not very much," Foster agreed. + +"Weel," said Pete, rather diffidently, "I thought ye might have some +use for me, if ye've no' finished the business ye are on." + +Foster doubted if Pete could help him much in Canada, since he did not +expect to chase Daly through the woods. The man, however, had been +useful and might be so again; then he had talents which, if rightly +applied, would earn him much more in Canada than five dollars a week. + +"If you mean to come, I'll take you," he said. "If I don't want you +myself, I think I can promise to give you a good start." + +Pete gave him a grateful glance, and Foster was silent while the train +ran down the valley of the Esk. On reaching Carlisle, he went to the +hotel he had named and asked for a room, but did not sign the visitors' +book. He spent the afternoon watching the station, and then went to +the Eden bridge, where the road to Scotland crossed the river. Daly +had a car and might prefer to use it instead of the rather infrequent +trains. + +Foster did not know where the fellow was, but he had been at the Garth +two days ago, and, if Featherstone's firmness had given him a hint, +might before leaving the country revisit Peebles and Hawick, where +Foster had left him the first clew. Daly was not the man to act on a +hasty conclusion without trying to verify it, and Lawrence's suit-case +was still at Peebles. It was possible that he had already gone south, +but there was a chance that he had not passed through Carlisle yet and +Foster durst not neglect it. + +Dusk was falling when he loitered about the handsome bridge. Lights +began to twinkle in the gray bulk of the castle across the park, and +along the Stanwix ridge, which rose above the waterside to the north. +The gleam faded off the river, but it was not quite dark and there was +not much traffic. Daly did not come and Foster, who was getting cold, +had begun to wonder how long he should wait when a bright light flashed +out at the top of the hill across the bridge. + +A car was coming down the hill and Foster stopped behind a tramway +cable-post and took out his pipe as if he meant to strike a match. +Just then a tram-car rolled across the bridge and the motor swerved +towards the spot where he stood. It passed close enough for him to +have touched it, and he saw Daly sitting beside the driver, and two +ladies behind. He could not distinguish their faces, for the car sped +across the bridge and a few moments later its tail light vanished among +the houses that ran down to the river. + +Foster set off after it as fast as he could walk. Daly would not go to +the station, because there was no train south for some time, and the +two hotels where motorists generally stayed were not far off. Still he +might drive through the town, making for Kendal or Lancaster, in which +case Foster would lose him. The car was not in the first garage, and +he hurried to the other, attached to his hotel. He found the car, +splashed with mud which the driver, whom he had seen at Hawick, was +washing off. + +"I want some petrol, and you had better leave me a clear road to the +door," the man said to a garage hand. "I expect we'll be out first in +the morning, because we mean to start as soon as it's light." + +Foster had heard enough, and quickly went away. Daly meant to stop the +night, and he must decide what to say to him. He was moreover curious +about his companions. + + + + +XXI + +DALY TAKES ALARM + +When he returned to the hotel Foster signed the visitors' book, which +he examined. Daly's name was not there, but the last entry recorded +the arrival of Mr. Forbes and two ladies from Edinburgh, and Foster did +not doubt that this was the party he had seen. He next went to the +smoking-room and choosing a quiet corner, lighted a cigarette. Daly +would probably see his name in the book, but this did not matter, +because he meant to seek an interview with the man. Foster did not +think he had met Graham, which gave him the advantage of being able to +make a surprise attack, since Daly would not know about the documents +he carried. + +By and by, however, he began to see the matter in a different light. +Taking it for granted that Daly meant to leave England, it might be +better to let him go. Even if he had not killed Fred Hulton, he had +obviously had something to do with the theft of the bonds, and would be +more afraid of detection in Canada, which would make him easier to deal +with. Besides, his knowledge of Lawrence Featherstone's offense would +be of less use to him there. If Foster could keep him in sight and +sail by the same vessel, he would be able to have the reckoning when he +liked after the ship left port. + +On the whole, he thought this the better plan, but resolved to leave +the thing to chance. If Daly met him or saw his name in the book, he +would deal with the fellow then; if not, he would wait until they were +on board ship. When he went in to dinner he chose a place behind a +pillar, where he was not likely to be noticed, and looked carefully +about. The room was large and occupied by a number of guests, but by +and by he saw Daly at a table near its other end. As he had taken a +prominent place, it looked as if he was not afraid of being seen. He +sat facing Foster, but at some distance, with two ladies on the +opposite side. They were fashionably dressed and one was older than +the other, but that was all Foster could distinguish. + +He had no ground for thinking Daly noticed him during the meal, and did +not see the man for an hour afterwards. Then finding that he wanted a +railway guide he had left in his room, he went up the stairs and along +a corridor. As he did so, he saw a man and woman some distance in +front. The carpet was thick, and it was obvious that the others did +not hear him, because the man put his arm round his companion's waist. +So far as Foster could see, the girl yielded willingly to his embrace, +and not wishing to overtake them he stopped. Next moment they passed a +lamp and he noted that the man was Daly, though he was unable to +distinguish his companion's face. He, however, thought he would know +her dress again. + +Daly's love affairs had nothing to do with him, but in order to save +the girl embarrassment he waited until they opened a door. Foster +imagined it led to a music or drawing-room, but passed without looking +in, and going up a flight of stairs spent some time in his room, +studying the railway guide and a list of steamship sailings. As he +entered the corridor on his way back he saw the girl, who was now +alone, in front. He knew her by her dress and did not mean to overtake +her, but after she had gone a few paces she stopped to pick up +something she had dropped. Since it would look rather marked if he +waited, he went on and was close to her when she heard his steps and +glanced round with a start. Then he stopped as he saw she was the girl +he had first met at Hawick. Although he thought she was embarrassed, +she met him with a smile. + +"It looks as if you had got tired of Edinburgh," she remarked. "Did +you stay there long?" + +"No," said Foster bluntly. "But I wonder whether you did not know that +I had left?" + +"How could I know?" she asked with a look of surprise that he thought +was well done. "Besides, why should I be interested?" + +"You seemed to think it better that I should go away. Anyhow, you gave +me a useful hint, which perhaps warrants my doing as much for you." + +She hesitated, glancing at an open door close by, and then moved +towards it as if she expected him to follow her. Foster did so and +found himself in a small drawing-room, where she sat down on a sofa and +waited for him to speak. Instead he stood opposite, pondering. The +girl was pretty and fashionably dressed, but he had ground for thinking +some of her friends or relatives were dangerous criminals. It did not, +however, follow that she took part in their plots, and although she +obviously knew something about what was going on, he did not believe +she knew it was connected with the tragedy at Gardner's Crossing. He +admitted that he was perhaps giving way to romantic sentiment, but he +was sorry for the girl and thought her Daly's victim. The fellow was +handsome and must have charm, since he had been able to influence +Carmen, who was strong-willed and clever. + +"Well?" she said presently. + +"I saw your name in the book, Miss Huntley, and know whom you came +with. I think you ought to go back to Edinburgh at once and must urge +you strongly not to go to Canada." + +It was plain that she understood him, for the blood rushed into her +face and he saw that she felt some confusion. This seemed to indicate +that she was not a hardened adventuress. + +"To begin with, I am not going to Canada--I did not mean to go," she +said, and her eyes sparkled as she added: "But you are guilty of +intolerable rudeness. Why do you presume to interfere?" + +"I suppose I am rude; I'm certainly unconventional. But you gave me +some advice in Edinburgh and I was grateful, because I saw you meant +well. Can't you believe that I mean well, too?" + +She gave him a quick, half-puzzled, half-nervous glance, but did not +answer, and he resumed: "Anyhow, you would run a greater risk in Canada +than I did in Edinburgh, and you were rash in coming to Carlisle." + +"But I'm not going to Canada!" she broke out. + +"Don't you believe me?" + +"I suppose I must," said Foster. "But I think you ought to go home." + +She laughed, a rather strained laugh. "You are conventional enough to +think I would be safe there. How do you know what kind of a home I +have?" + +"I know nothing about it," Foster admitted. "I find you here with a +dangerous companion and dare say I haven't taken a very tactful line in +trying to warn you. That's all." + +There was silence for the next few moments and he felt sympathetic as +he watched her disturbed face. Her anger had vanished and he thought +she was grappling with doubt and alarm. In the meantime, he was not +free from embarrassment. It was an awkward business, and he had not +managed it very well. Then she got up and stood looking at him calmly. + +"You have gone too far, in one sense, but not far enough in another. +You must be plainer if you want to justify your conduct." + +"I see that, but am afraid you'll have to take my honesty for granted, +because I can't tell you anything more, except that the man you came +with is not to be trusted and may involve you in the difficulties that +threaten him. You must think of me as a stranger to whom you tried to +do a good turn and who has showed his gratitude in a clumsy way." + +"Then there's nothing more to be said; but I suppose I must admit that +you meant well," she answered, and giving him a level glance moved to +the door. + +Foster held it open and after she had gone went down to the +smoking-room. Perhaps he had been rash, but this did not matter. On +the whole, he did not think the girl would tell Daly about his warning, +and if she did, he probably knew already that Foster was at the hotel. +In fact, it was rather significant that they had not met. Still, as +she was not going to Canada, he had not gained much, except perhaps by +exciting her suspicions and so preventing Daly's making some use of her +in his plots. This, however, was not Foster's object, although he +imagined Daly had some practical reason for his philandering. It was +for the girl's sake he had interfered and her attitude puzzled him. + +She could not have been altogether unsuspecting, or she would have +bitterly resented his attack upon her lover, but her blush and +confusion showed she had scruples and was rather the prey of a foolish +infatuation than an accomplice. She knew something, but he felt sure +she did not know in what a serious crime her lover was implicated. +Foster, however, would not dwell on this. He hoped she would return to +Edinburgh, but if she did not, he had done his best. He must be ready +to follow Daly in the morning, and going to another garage hired a car +and then warned Pete, whom he had sent to a different hotel. A fast +car would reach Liverpool in five or six hours. + +There was only one thing that disturbed him; he had not heard from the +police, but it would be dangerous to disobey an order by telegram, +while if Gordon arrived before Daly left, awkward complications might +arise. Foster, however, could do nothing to prevent this and presently +went to bed. + +Getting up in the dark next morning, he went to the garage. The air +was very raw and a fog hung over the town, but one or two electric +lights burned in the gloomy shed, where an attendant was doing +something. Daly's car stood where Foster had last seen it, but the +cover was off the engine and some tools and small springs lay about. +As there was no sign of the driver, it did not look as if Daly meant to +start soon. + +"You open early," he said to the attendant. "Nobody seems to be going +away just yet." + +"I'm here earlier than I need have been," the man grumbled. "By the +way the fellow who brought me has left his car, he won't be ready for +another hour." + +Foster, who had learned what he wanted to know, returned to the hotel +and his breakfast was served in a comer of the big dining-room. He +imagined that Daly had seen it was a bad morning and had not got up as +soon as he meant. The dining-room was cold and only lighted near +Foster's table, which did not look as if anybody else was expected. + +"I dare say you'd sooner have people who get up later," he remarked to +the waiter who brought him another dish. + +"We serve breakfast when it's wanted, sir, if you order it beforehand." + +"I seem to be the only person who has done so this morning." + +"So far as I know, sir," the waiter replied. "But there's another man +on early duty." + +Foster thought the other waiter would have turned on more lights if he +expected a customer, and as there was no need for hurry ate a good +meal. Day was breaking when he finished and word was brought him that +his car was ready. Going to the office, he paid his bill and asked if +a letter or telegram had arrived. There was nothing for him and he +went to a window that commanded a view of the street. His car stood +close by with Pete inside, but it was some time before Daly's came out +of the garage. Knowing that he could reach the door in a few moments, +Foster waited until the two ladies who had arrived with Daly went down +the steps alone. He could not understand this, but a waiter came up +and said that Miss Huntley would like to see him. When Foster reached +the pavement the girl had got into the car. + +"I thought you would be glad to know I am going home," she said. + +"Are you going in this car?" Foster asked sharply. + +"As far as Hawick," she answered with a twinkle of amusement. "As I am +doing what you urged, I don't see why you should be surprised." + +"No," said Foster, "of course not! Well, I really think it was a +useful hint." + +"Perhaps so. Thank you, and good-by," she said smiling, and signed to +the driver. + +The car rolled away and Foster, watching it speed up the street, +wondered where Daly was, and why the girl had sent for him. It was +possible that she had meant to retire, so to speak, with colors flying +and not to steal away, but he did not understand her amusement, and +feared a Parthian shot. He must find out why Daly did not want the car. + +Going back to the office, he asked the clerk: "Can you tell me when Mr. +Forbes will be down for breakfast?" + +"He left last night. The porter took his luggage to the twelve o'clock +train." + +Foster savagely clenched his fist. He had been cheated; the girl had +warned Daly, who had suspected some danger. Still, Foster did not +think she had told him all and she had taken his advice; but this did +not matter. Daly had gone and he must get upon his track as soon as +possible. Running down the steps, he jumped into the car and told the +man to drive to the station. + +The twelve o'clock train went to London, but there was a connection by +which one could reach Liverpool at about four in the morning. It was +now eight o'clock, and Foster walked up and down the platform, growling +at his folly, for a minute or two. Then he ascertained that there was +another train for Liverpool in half an hour which would arrive at noon, +and sending the car away, waited about the office until he could get +tickets. After all, he might find Daly before the steamer sailed. + + + + +XXII + +CARMEN GETS A SHOCK + +On his way to Liverpool, Foster tried to review the situation calmly. +His anger was vanishing, but he still felt sore and annoyed with +himself. He had weakly yielded to sentimental pity for an attractive +girl and had paid for it, because she had, no doubt, warned Daly, who +knew from Foster's boldness that he had learned enough to make him +dangerous. The latter grimly resolved that he would not let any +Quixotic folly spoil his plans again. He had been cleverly tricked, +but was not beaten yet, because a study of the steamship advertisements +led him to believe that Daly could not leave Liverpool until the +afternoon. Moreover, the fellow was obviously afraid of him. + +Arriving shortly after twelve o'clock, he drove to the Canadian Pacific +office and asked a clerk for a list of the passengers by a steamer +announced to sail that day. He was given a list and saw that Mr. +Andrew Forbes had taken a saloon berth. This indicated that Daly had +booked his passage beforehand. + +"I see my friend's on board," Foster remarked. "Have you got a first +and a second-class berth left?" + +"We had," the clerk said, smiling, "Unfortunately, the boat has gone." + +"Gone!" exclaimed Foster, who got a shock. "Don't your steamers sail +in the afternoon?" + +"As a rule," the clerk agreed. "However, this is an extra sailing, and +we sent her off earlier to pick up passengers at Belfast Lough." + +Foster said nothing, but left the office with a determined look. A +swift Canadian Northern liner sailed from Bristol two days later and +ought to reach Quebec soon after the other boat. He thought of +telegraphing to secure a berth, but decided not to do so. He had given +Gordon his Carlisle address, which was all that he had promised, and +although he had heard nothing from him, the police might make inquiries +at the steamship offices. On the whole, it seemed safer to leave +Liverpool and he took the first train to Bristol, but got out at +Hereford, which was about half-way. It would be awkward if the police +interfered with him now. + +Reaching Bristol shortly before the steamer sailed, he had no trouble +in taking a passage for himself and Pete, and arrived at Quebec about +twelve hours after the Canadian Pacific boat. Daly had got a start, +and although Foster did not mean to give up the chase, he felt +depressed as the train sped through the forests of Ontario. It was not +long since he had come that way in high spirits, looking forward with +pleasure to a holiday. Now he looked back, with a feeling of +unreality, on his wanderings among the Scottish bogs. All he had done +seemed ridiculous and fantastic. Nobody was the better for it, while +he had involved himself in a horrible tangle. The police were probably +on his track and Featherstone suspected him; he had acted like a +romantic boy and not a sober man. There was, however, one bright +gleam; Alice trusted him, and he must show that he deserved her +confidence. + +Arriving at Gardner's Crossing in the evening, he sent Pete to the +hotel and went to Austin's house. He must see Carmen and resolved that +she should find him proof against her wiles; he was not going to be a +sentimental fool again. In a general way, Carmen was, of course, too +clever for him, but he had now certain advantages which he meant to use. + +He was shown into her drawing-room, where he was left for some time, +and imagined with rather grim amusement that she was making +preparations to receive him. Carmen knew the power of her beauty, +which, however, owed much to her tasteful dress. In the meantime, he +looked about the room. It was pretty with a certain exotic touch that +the girl knew how to give. The color-plan of carpets, rugs, and +curtains, although rather vivid, was good; the furniture pleased the +eye. Foster had once thought it charmingly artistic, but knew better +now. Alice Featherstone had taught him the difference between +prettiness and dignified beauty. He felt that difference plainly when +Carmen came in, dressed like the fashionable women he had seen in +Edinburgh. + +"You have come back soon, but it's nice to see you," she said with a +smile. "The Crossing was duller than usual after you had gone." + +"Thank you! I came back sooner than I expected," Foster replied, +rather dryly. + +Carmen gave him a quick look, but sat down with languid grace in an +easy chair. + +"Well, I've no doubt you have much to tell me about your trip, and if +you'll talk about Edinburgh and London, I won't let anybody in." + +"Aren't you anxious to know if I delivered the packet?" + +"The packet? I had forgotten it," Carmen said carelessly. "Still, I +did think you might have written to let me know you took it safe. But +I dare say you had many interesting things to do." + +"As it happened, I had," Foster replied with a touch of grimness. "For +all that, I delivered the packet and got an answer." + +Carmen regarded him with surprise, as if she thought he had not played +up. "You can give me the answer afterwards. Tell me about +Featherstone's place and his people. I'm curious about them; +particularly his sisters. I suppose he has some?" + +Foster thought he understood. Carmen was clever and would not have +used such obvious means had she wished to learn if Lawrence had a +sister who had attracted him. What she wanted was to persuade him that +the packet was not important. + +"I'd sooner talk about the errand you gave me. Did you know what the +packet contained?" + +She laughed, but he thought the laugh was forced. "Doesn't that sound +rather stupid when I sent the thing?" + +"Perhaps it does," said Foster gravely. "Still, I hope you didn't +know." + +Her coquettish manner vanished and she leaned slightly forward while +her eyes got hard. Indeed, there was something feline in her alert +pose. Now she had, so to speak, unsheathed her claws, he was glad the +advantage was heavily on his side. For all that, he did not want to +hurt her. + +"Go on," she said sharply. + +"Very well. I got an answer, which I opened. I'll show it to you, but +won't give it up." + +"You opened it!" she exclaimed. "Do you mean to keep a letter that was +sent to me?" + +"I don't think it was sent to you; that's important." + +Carmen smiled defiantly and Foster admired her pluck, since it was +obvious that he had found out the trick. Still he thought she did not +know how important the letter really was. + +"Then you can quit fencing and get down to business," she said, and +Foster saw that the surface polish she generally wore was thin. The +character it concealed was fierce and somewhat primitive. He had +suspected that Carmen would not be restrained by conventions if she let +herself go. + +"If you'll be patient, I'll try to make things plain." + +He began by hastily recounting what had happened at the factory the +night Fred Hulton was killed. Carmen was obviously puzzled, which was +a relief to him, but he saw comprehension in her look as he went on to +relate how he had been watched by the police, and his interview with +Graham and subsequent adventures. By degrees, her understanding +changed to horror, and when he stopped he saw that she had got a cruel +shock. Her face was white, her gaze was fixed, and, her eyes were +unusually wide open. Still he thought it was through her pride she +suffered most. Then she braced herself and looked at him scornfully. + +"You surely lost your nerve and got imagining things when you were +hiding in the bogs. It's a quite impossible story!" + +"It sounds like that, but I have some proof; money for Daly and another +man, which I suppose you were to send on. It's evidently their share +of the plunder." + +He took out his wallet and held up the checks, keeping, however, a firm +grip on them, because he knew that if Carmen meant to fight for her +lover she would not be scrupulous. + +"Daly wasn't near the factory the night Fred Hulton was killed. I know +where he was," she said in a strained but defiant voice. + +"All the better for him," Foster rejoined. "It's pretty clear that he +had a share in the thing." + +Carmen suddenly leaned back and turned her head. She had given in +sooner than Foster expected, but the evidence was overwhelming. He did +not look at her for some moments and felt ashamed of the cruelty he had +had to use, but there was no avoiding this when a number of people's +happiness was at stake. After all, he thought it was rather her +ambition than her affection that had been engaged. Then rousing +herself with an effort she turned to him. + +"Well," she said, "it looks as if I'd had an escape!" + +Foster felt comforted, but did not answer, and she resumed: "You +haven't told me this for nothing. What do you want?" + +"I want to know where Daly is. I've no doubt he called here on his way +west and you have his address." + +"You can't force me to give it you." + +"I don't know if I can or not, but don't want to use force," Foster +replied, and while he waited, hesitating to play his last card, Carmen +looked up with fear in her eyes. + +"Jake," she said, "you mustn't think my father knows anything about +this. I sent the packet, without telling him, because Daly asked me." + +"But your father and he had some business together that nobody knew +about." + +"They had. They were really backing Nicholson, who got the first +recorders turned off the Fish-hawk silver claim." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "now I understand!" + +He was glad to admit that her statement explained Austin's rather +mysterious association with Daly. Public feeling had been strongly +roused by the dispute about the mine, whose finders it was believed had +been cunningly cheated out of their rights. There were, moreover, +hints of foul play about a dangerous accident in the workings that had +given the victorious claimants a legal advantage. Foster could imagine +Daly's finding scope for his talents in the trickery and intrigue, and +saw why Austin did not want his share in it known. + +"In a way, it's a relief to find that's all your father had to do with +the fellow," he resumed. "Anyhow, I want his address." + +"I won't give it you," Carmen answered stubbornly. + +Foster hesitated. The shock the girl had got had broken down her +self-control. He shrank from turning this to his advantage and dealing +her another blow, but could not be fastidious when his partner's safety +and Alice Featherstone's happiness were at stake. Besides, it would be +better for Carmen that her infatuation for Daly should be altogether +destroyed. + +"Well," he said, "I'm surprised that you should still feel you ought to +protect the man, and must try to convince you that he doesn't deserve +it." + +Then he related what he had seen in the corridor of the Carlisle hotel +and how Miss Huntley had helped Daly to deceive him. Carmen's face +paled and then suddenly turned crimson; but she answered with a +quietness he had not expected: + +"You're not a liar, Jake, so I suppose this is true. But you're all of +you human, and you say the girl is pretty. What you saw mayn't mean +very much." + +"She wore an engagement ring. I don't imagine it was given her by +another man." + +Then Carmen flung the last of her self-control away. Her eyes flashed +and Foster thought she looked like a wild cat as she indulged her +savage rage. + +"The cur!" she cried in a harsh voice. "He went to Banff, in British +Columbia. Now you know, you had better go after him. Do what you like +with him; I don't mind!" + +Foster went to the door, but as he reached it she called him back and +looked at him with a bitter, mocking smile. + +"You're smarter than I thought, Jake, but I suppose you think I don't +know why you meddled! It wasn't for your partner's sake, though I soon +guessed that Daly was getting after him; Featherstone has a sister, and +you have fallen in love with her. Well, she can have you with pleasure +if she has any use for you, and before long you'll make her deadly +tired. You'd bore a live woman crazy in a week; you'll never be rich, +because you're afraid of touching a dollar you don't earn, and you've +got the morals of a convent-school girl!" She gasped and resumed in a +scream: "Why don't you go before I throw something at you?" + +Foster left and was glad when he shut the door. Carmen was obviously +beside herself and had gone further than she meant. If it was any +comfort to insult him, he did not grudge it her, but thought he saw +where her remarks led. He had been rather fond of Carmen, as she no +doubt knew, before he understood her, and their friendship might have +ripened until----. Well, he was sorry for her, but it looked as if she +was not the only person who had had an escape. + +When he got outside, he went to the factory and found Hulton alone in +the president's room. The man looked worn, but greeted Foster with a +reserved smile and gave him a cigar. + +"You haven't been away very long," he remarked. "Didn't your visit +turn out as pleasant as you expected?" + +"In one way, it did not. But why did you send the British police after +me?" + +"As a matter of fact, I let them know you were all right, but my agent +had to go to them, and thought it might be better if they kept a watch +on you. You'd got busy about some mysterious business. What was it?" + +"I can't tell you," said Foster bluntly. "It only concerns me and +Featherstone, but it led to something else; I'll come to that later. +What about the man I helped on the train? If he got through all right, +why didn't he send me word?" + +"As the fellows who attacked you had got on the wrong track, we thought +we'd let them follow it, but they were smarter than we reckoned and we +lost them." + +"Then you made use of me, at my risk, as the Scottish police did +afterwards?" Foster rejoined. "I don't know that I've much to thank +you for, since it led to my being thrown off the Montreal express and +chased across the Border bogs." + +"I must allow that we did something of the kind," Hulton owned with a +smile. "But we'll let that go. What have you found out?" + +Foster handed him Graham's letter and the check on the American bank, +but not the circular check for Daly. Hulton's face showed stern +satisfaction and he gave Foster a very grateful look. + +"I owe you much for this and am not going to forget the service. These +papers prove conspiracy and robbery, and clear my boy. But how did you +get them?" + +Foster supplied a garbled account of his interview with Graham, and +Hulton looked at him thoughtfully. + +"Its plain that you're keeping something back, but if it's your or your +partner's business, I suppose I can't object. I believe you mean to do +the square thing." + +"Thank you," said Foster. "What have you found out about Daly?" + +"Enough to show he wasn't at the factory the night Fred was killed," +Hulton answered with stern self-control. "But he was in the plot and +is being watched in Scotland." + +"Then you don't know that he's in Canada?" + +Hulton stretched out his hand to a bell, but Foster stopped him. + +"Wait a moment! You have got to leave Daly to me. Anyhow, you're not +to send your agents or the police after him until I telegraph you. I'm +going to look for him by to-night's train." + +"The train goes west," Hulton answered meaningly. + +"It does, but if I think I'm followed, I'll spoil the trail." + +Hulton's eyes flashed and his face set very hard. "The man belongs to +the gang that killed my son and tried to blacken his name. I don't +quit until I've run the last rogue down." + +"I mean to see Daly first," Foster answered doggedly. + +After a moment or two, Hulton made a gesture of agreement. "Very well; +I allow you have a claim. But I won't interfere if my agents have +already got on his track." + +"I must take the risk of that," Foster replied and left the factory a +few minutes afterwards. + + + + +XXIII + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + +Daly was not at Banff, and Foster, who made cautious inquiries, found +nothing to indicate that he had been there. Indeed, he began to weigh +the possibility of Carmen's having deceived him, but rejected this +explanation. The girl was clever at intrigue, but he did not think she +had acted a part. She had really lost her self-control and told him +the truth in a fit of rage. On the other hand, it was possible that +Daly had deceived her, but there was no obvious reason for his doing so. + +The fellow, however, was not in Banff, which is a small place, +frequented mostly by tourists and invalids who come there in summer, +and Foster took a west-bound train. He was once more at a loss and +felt dispirited. For one thing, he had no time to lose, because it +would spoil his plans if Hulton's agents got on Daly's track before him. + +He left Banff late at night, with a ticket for Vancouver, which he had +bought on speculation, partly because the seaboard city is a +clearing-house for travelers to all parts of the Pacific coast, but did +not sleep much as the heavy train rumbled through the mountains. The +jolting of the cars and the roar of wheels that echoed among the rocks +disturbed him, and he was troubled by gloomy thoughts. He had promised +Alice Featherstone that he would clear her brother; but he had also to +clear himself, and in order to do so must find Lawrence as well as +Daly. Just now he had not much hope of finding either, but he +cherished a vague belief in his luck, and it was unthinkable that he +should neglect any chance of justifying the girl's confidence. He was +ready to follow Daly round the world, sooner than lose that. The +trouble was that he could not tell if he was following the fellow or +not. + +He went to sleep at last, and getting up rather late, spent an hour or +two trying to knit up broken clews and looking for a light. It was a +profitless but absorbing occupation and he vacantly glanced at the +majestic panorama of snowy peaks and climbing forest that rolled past +the windows of the car. When his thoughts wandered from their groove, +he saw Alice Featherstone moving with stately calm about the Garth, or +standing in the orchard with the sunset shining on her face. He +recalled the grace of her tall figure and how her dress harmonized with +the mossy trunks, but he loved to dwell upon the look of trust in her +steady eyes. Then the memories were suddenly banished, for a whistle +rang up the track and there was a jar of brakes. + +Foster hurried out to the platform when the long train stopped, and saw +the conductor talking to the engineer and passengers jumping down into +the snow. Pete joined him as he followed them, but he stopped for some +moments and looked about. There was no station near. The track, which +was marked by cinders and stains on the snow, ran along a desolate +mountainside. Dark pines that looked as if they had been dusted with +icing-sugar rolled in curiously rigid ranks up the slope, getting +smaller until they dwindled to a fine saw-edge that bit into a vast +sweep of white. This ended in a row of jagged peaks whose summits +gleamed with dazzling brightness against the blue sky. Below the +track, the ground fell away to a tremendous gorge, where dark-colored +mist hung about a green river dotted with drifting ice. The sun struck +warm upon his face, though the snow was dry. + +"We'll find out why they've stopped," he said to Pete and walked +forward past the cars. + +The engineer stood on the step of the huge locomotive and had not much +information to give. + +"Track's gone down not far ahead; snow-slide, I guess." + +He shrugged when Foster asked if it would be a long job. "You can see +for yourself, if you like," he remarked, indicating a plume of smoke +that rose above the pines. "There's a construction gang at work round +the bend. It's a sure thing we won't pull out before you're back." + +Foster set off with Pete and several passengers, and the Scot gazed +about with wonder. + +"I was born among the hills, but never have I seen ought like this!" he +exclaimed. "Man, it passes dreamin' o'; it's just stupenjious! But I +wouldna' say they'll mak' much o' farming here." + +"They have some bench tablelands and pretty rich alluvial valleys," +Foster answered with a smile. "The province depends largely on its +minerals." + +Pete glanced back up the track that wound down between rock and forest +from a distant notch in the high, white rampart. + +"I'm thinking the men who built yon line had stout hearts." + +"It wasn't an easy job," Foster agreed. "They were up against savage +Nature, and she's still too strong for the engineer now and then, as I +expect you'll shortly see." + +They walked through a gap in the pines and stopped with a sense of awe +on the edge of a great red furrow in the mountain. The gash was +fringed by shattered trees, and here and there a giant splintered trunk +rested precariously among stones ground to fragments. Far beneath, a +vast pile of earth and snow dammed the river, and half-way up an +overturned locomotive, with boiler crushed like an eggshell, lay among +the wreckage. The end of a smashed box-car rose out of the boiling +flood. For a hundred yards the track had vanished, but gangs of men +were hurrying to and fro about the gap. Farther back, there was clang +of flung-down rails and a ringing of hammers. + +"If they open the road again by to-morrow morning, they'll be lucky," +Foster remarked, and stopped a big fellow who was going past with an ax +on his shoulder. "Is there any settlement not too far ahead?" + +"There's a smart new hotel at the flag station about six miles off," +said the man. "You can make it all right walking if you keep to the +track and watch out you don't meet the construction train in the +snowshed." + +Foster, who knew he would find waiting tedious, went back to the car +for his small bag, after which he and Pete set off for the hotel. They +had some trouble to cross the path of the avalanche and then spent some +time getting past the men who were unloading a row of flat cars. The +single-line track was cut out of the rock and one ran a risk of +glissading down to the river by venturing outside its edge. Once, +indeed, a heavy beam, thrown too far, plunged down like a toboggan, and +leaping from a rock's crest splashed into the flood. The men on the +cars worked in furious haste, and it was difficult to avoid the +clanging rails they threw off. + +Foster got past, but did not find walking easy when he had done so. +The track wound among the folds of the hills, and where the sun had +struck the snow there was a slippery crust, through which he broke. +Where it ran past tall crags and between the trees, the snow was dry +and loose as dust. They made something over two miles in the first +hour and soon afterwards came to the mouth of a snowshed. The opening +made a dark blotch on the glittering slope, for the roof was pitched at +a very small angle to the declivity and the snow passed down hill over +it with scarcely a wrinkle. + +It was only when they entered they saw signs of man's work in the +massive beams and stringers that braced the structure. These were +presently lost in the gloom and Foster stumbled among the ties. +Shingle ballast rolled under his feet; where he found a tie to step on +it was generally by stubbing his toe, and once or twice he struck the +side of the shed. + +For all that, he pushed on as fast as possible. The warning he had +been given was indefinite, but it looked as if a train was shortly +expected and the locomotive, with its outside cylinders, would not give +them much room. He imagined that refuges would be provided at +intervals, but did not know where to find them. Now and then they +stopped to listen, but heard nothing. There was deep silence, which +was a relief, and they blundered on again as fast as they could. It +was rather daunting work and one could not make much speed, but when a +faint, muffled throbbing reached them they began to run. + +Foster had no means of guessing the length of the shed, and as he +slipped among the ballast looked anxiously in front, but could not see +the glimmering patch of light he expected. The darkness was +impenetrable, but the contour of the hillside had indicated that the +shed was curved, and the outlet might be nearer than he thought. In +the meantime, the sweat ran down his face and his breath came hard. He +was in good training, for his journeys among the Scottish hills had +strengthened his muscles, but the footing was bad among the stones, and +he labored through them awkwardly with set lips and clenched hands. He +thought of throwing away his heavy coat, but it would take a few +moments to get it off and he must put down the bag, in which there was +the letter he would need. By and by his foot struck something and +lurching forward he lost his balance and came down heavily. The blow +shook him and he was a little slow in getting up until he felt a rail +he put his hand on quiver. Then he scrambled to his feet, but could +not find the bag. + +"I hae't," said Pete, who seized his arm and urged him forward. + +A deep snorting reached them and a tie he trod on trembled, but as he +ran savagely with labored breath there was an elusive glimmer in the +dark ahead. It grew brighter, an irregularly-shaped white patch +appeared, and making a tense effort while the ballast rolled beneath +his feet, he staggered into the sunshine. Then with a gasp of keen +relief he threw himself upon the snow beside the track. + +About a hundred yards away, a giant locomotive toiled up the incline, +hurling out clouds of smoke that streamed far back among the pines. +The road bed shook and the hillside rang with the din of wheels. While +Foster lay panting, the locomotive labored past, and then long, flat +cars, on which men sat upon the load of jarring rails, clanged by. The +black mouth of the shed swallowed them, a cloud of smoke and dusty snow +curled about the opening, and the uproar suddenly sank to a muffled +rumble. This died away and the deep silence of the mountains was +emphasized by the sound of the river. + +"We were not much too soon," Foster said with a breathless laugh. "Now +I come to think of it, there's no obvious reason we shouldn't have +stopped on board the train and got our lunch comfortably. I seem to +have a habit of doing unusual and unnecessary things; it's curious how +soon you get into trouble when you indulge a bent like that." + +"Yon's a verra true remairk," Pete agreed. "It's a rough and thorny +world, an' if ye will not walk in the cleared paths but gang yere air +gait, ye must struggle with the briars." + +"And scramble through snowsheds? You Scots are a philosophical lot. +But do you call poaching sticking to the beaten path?" + +"I'm thinking it's as near it as stravaging aboot the Border mosses, +when ye might gang by train." + +"A fair hit! But after all, man wears the regulation paths so deep +that he can't get out when he wants. What about the pioneers, who +blaze the new trails? Aren't they needed?" + +"Whiles, maybe," Pete answered grinning. "For a' that, they maun tak' +the consequences. Do ye feel it's yere business to break a new road?" + +"Certainly not! I'm not a philanthropist and would be quite satisfied +with making things a little easier for myself and my friends, but am +much afraid I haven't succeeded yet. In fact, there's one friend in +England who's very far from grateful. But the question is--Why did I +leave the train?" + +"Ye just felt ye had to?" + +"I think I did. But why did I feel that?" + +Pete chuckled. "There ye have me! This I ken; whiles when I had a +hare or a few paltrig in the lining o' my auld coat and cam' to a slap +in a dyke, I had a kind o' feeling yon was no' the road for me. I +couldna' tell there was a keeper hiding on the ither side; but I didna' +gang. Maybe it's better no' to argue but follow yere heart." + +"No," said Foster, "I imagine it's really better to follow your head. +In the meantime, I've had no lunch and think we'll get on." + +They came to a wide hollow in the hills where the snow was deep and +loose. The sun was shut out and the frost was keen, while Foster saw +by the lengthening shadow of the pines across the river that the +afternoon was wearing on. A glance at his watch showed that he had +been walking for nearly three hours, but there was no sign of the +hotel. Dark masses of trees ran up from the water to the line of +summer snow, and no roof or curl of smoke broke their somber monotony. +High above, the peaks glittered with a steely brightness that seemed to +intensify the cold. + +Their breath hung about them as they plodded on, but at length, when +they came to the middle of the bend, where the hills curved out again, +there was a break and they stopped at the end of a bridge. The low sun +shone into the gap, which was profoundly deep and majestically +beautiful. On its farther side, tremendous crags held up the snow, +which trickled down their faces in thin gray streaks and stretched back +above, steeped in soft blue shadow. On Foster's side, giant pines +glimmered a bright green in the warm light, running up to a glittering +slope that ended in two rugged peaks, and a river that sprang from a +wrinkled glacier foamed through the dusky gorge. Where a small +clearing had been cut in the forest, steep red roofs stood out in +harmonious contrast with the green of the firs, and a picturesque +wooden building with pillars and verandas occupied the greater part of +the opening. + +"If the place is as attractive inside, it's worth the walk," Foster +remarked. "You appreciate your quarters best when you've had some +trouble to get there." + +"I'm thinking that's true. The peat fire and the auld rush chair in +the bit cothouse are weel worth winning to when ye come through the +rain and wind ower the dark moss. This is a gran' country, but it's +no' like that ither amang the Border fells." + +Foster stood for a few moments and mused, for he sympathized with Pete. +He remembered the satisfaction with which he had seen the lights of a +lonely inn or farmstead twinkle when he tramped, wet and tired, across +the Scottish moors. They were bleak and often forbidding, but had a +charm one felt but could not analyze, with the half-lights that +trembled across them and their subdued coloring. In spite of some +hardships, he had been happy in the misty, rain-swept land, but he knew +it had been touched by the glamour of romance. That was over. He was +on his probation in utilitarian Canada, and very much at a loss; but he +meant to make good somehow and go forward, trusting in his luck. + +"Well," he said, "I'm hungry and we'll get on. I hope they won't make +us wait for supper, though they'll no doubt call it dinner at a place +like this." + +Five minutes afterwards he stamped the snow off his boots as he entered +a glass-fronted veranda in front of the hotel. It was comfortably +furnished, warm, and occupied by three people. A lady sat with some +sewing at a table, and a very pretty girl, holding a cigarette case, +leaned over the side of a basket chair, in which a man reclined. +Foster, who imagined he was an invalid by his slack pose, was passing +on to the main door when the man moved. As he turned to take a +cigarette Foster saw his face. + +"Lawrence!" he exclaimed. + +"Jake!" said the other, and would have got up, but the girl put her +hand restrainingly on his arm. + +Foster stood still for a moment, overcome by surprise and satisfaction, +but understanding what he saw. The lady with the sewing was studying +him, but he did not resent this and thought he would like her. The +girl divided her attention between him and his comrade, whom she +restrained with a pretty air of authority. She obviously knew who +Foster was and felt curious, but meant to take care of Lawrence. There +was something in her protective manner that Foster found singularly +charming. Then Lawrence beckoned and held out his hand. + +"I'm uncommonly glad to see you, Jake, but how did you get here?" + +"Why aren't you in California?" + +They both laughed and Lawrence turned to the lady. + +"This is my neglectful partner, as I dare say you have guessed. Mrs. +Stephen, of Victoria, Jake." + +She gave Foster her hand and he was next presented to Miss Lucy +Stephen. Then Lawrence indicated Pete, who waited, looking very big +and muscular but quite at ease. + +"Who's this and where did you get him? I'll engage that he was born +between Ettrick and Liddel." + +"He kens!" Peter remarked with a twinkle. "My name's no' far frae +Ettrick, sir." + +"My friend, Pete Scott," said Foster. "You have heard the ladies' +names, Pete, but this is my partner, Mr. Featherstone, from the Garth." + +Pete lifted his hand to his forehead and the movement had a touch of +dignity. "Your servant, all; an' if ye'll alloo it, Mr. Foster's +friends are mine." + +Lawrence laughed. "A very proper sentiment, and a true Borderer! But +you haven't told us how you found him, Jake." + +"It's a long tale," said Foster. "Besides, I'm hungry. So I expect is +Pete." + +Lucy Stephen rang a bell. "Tea ought to be ready. We often take it +here." + +The tea was brought a few minutes afterwards and when Lucy gave him his +cup Foster sat in a basket chair studying his comrade. Lawrence's face +was pinched and his pose languid, but Foster thought he was not so ill +as he had been. He did not know how much he ought to ask and had +decided to wait until they were alone when Lawrence smiled. + +"You needn't be alarmed, partner. I'm very much better than I was and +will soon be quite fit again." + +"We have good ground for hoping so," Lucy Stephen added in a friendly +tone, and Foster thought she had noted his anxiety and liked him for it. + +Her remark seemed to warrant his looking at her and he approved what he +saw. The girl was attractive and had character, but what struck him at +first sight was the protective gentleness she showed his comrade. He +liked her eyes, which were a soft, clear blue, while her supple figure +and warm-tinted skin hinted that she was vigorous. It was plain that +she had not Alice Featherstone's reserve and pride, nor he thought the +depth of tenderness that the latter hid. She was softer and more +pliable, for Alice was marked by an unflinching steadfastness. He +smiled as he admitted that for him Alice stood alone on an +unapproachable plane. + +"But how did you get ill?" he asked. + +"I was left on an icy _couloir_," Lawrence replied. "When they found +me I was half-frozen, but it makes a story that's probably as long as +yours. I'll tell it you later. How's our Borderer getting on?" + +Foster turned to Pete, who had a large, hot Canadian biscuit on his +plate. "This kind of meal isn't very common in this country, Pete. +Perhaps I'd better warn you that there'll be another by and by." + +"Aweel," said Pete, grinning, "I've no' done so bad. It's a guid plan +to mak' certain when ye hae the chance." + + + + +XXIV + +LAWRENCE'S STORY + +When the meal was over Foster began to feel impatient. Pete went away, +but Mrs. Stephen and Lucy remained, and Foster, having much to ask and +tell his comrade, was embarrassed by their presence. By and by he saw +that Lawrence was watching him with quiet amusement. + +"It's like old times to have you with us," Lawrence remarked. "In +fact, it only needed your turning up to complete my satisfaction; but +you're a disturbing fellow. Don't you think this lucky reunion is +rather too good to spoil?" + +Foster knew what he meant and was tempted to agree, though he felt this +was weak. It was pleasant to lounge, enjoying careless talk, and the +society of the two ladies had its charm. They added a touch of +domesticity and gave the place a homelike look, while the girl made an +attractive picture as she handed Lawrence his matches and cigarettes. +Foster thought it was worth being ill to be waited on like that. Then +his chair was comfortable and he could see the sunset fading on the +snow. + +The sky was a wonderful pale-green and the high peaks glowed against +it, softly red. There was a belt where the snow glittered, but lower +down it faded to gray and blue. The pines were nearly black, but rose +out of the shadow in sharp-cut spires, and far down in the dusky gorge, +from which the roar of the flood and crash of ice ascended, there were +gleams of livid foam. Still there was much he wanted to learn, and it +was something of a relief when Mrs. Stephen picked up her sewing and +gave her daughter a meaning glance. To Foster's surprise, Lawrence +interposed. + +"If you don't mind, I'd sooner you didn't go." Then he turned to +Foster with a smile. "It's obvious that you want to unbosom yourself, +Jake, but you can begin. You needn't be afraid of mentioning Daly. +Lucy knows." + +Foster remarked the girl's blush. Since she knew so much, it was plain +that Lawrence had asked her to marry him and she had agreed. He +imagined that Lawrence wanted Mrs. Stephen to hear somebody else's +account of the matter, and although it would have been easier to talk +to Lawrence alone, he asked: + +"Did you know the fellow was in Banff a day or two since?" + +Lucy Stephen made an abrupt movement, and her mother looked interested. +She was a quiet lady and more reserved than the girl, but Foster +thought her intelligent and firm. + +"I did not," said Lawrence. "As a matter of fact, I'm no longer afraid +of the fellow and mean to fight. He can't do me much harm--now." + +The girl's shy glance at his comrade moved Foster. She knew what her +lover meant and valued his trust; but he could sympathize with Mrs. +Stephen, who looked disturbed. The latter was practical and no doubt +saw that Daly might give them trouble. + +"You had better begin at the beginning, and then we'll understand why +you came back and how you got on Daly's trail," Lawrence resumed with a +hint of resignation. + +"Very well; but first, why didn't you write?" + +"I wrote twice. Once to my mother and once to you." + +"We got no letters. Did you post them?" + +"Ah!" said Lawrence, "that was unfortunate. I gave the first letter to +a steward to send ashore from a San Francisco boat. Walters put the +other in the mail." + +"Who is Walters?" + +"We'll come to him later. Get on with your story." + +Foster told it as clearly as he could, though this took some time, and +when he had finished was annoyed by his comrade's smile. Lawrence +seldom took things seriously enough. + +"Jake is a born meddler," he remarked to the others. "He can't resist +the temptation to put crooked matters right." + +"It is a useful habit," said Mrs. Stephen quietly. + +"Just so," Lawrence agreed. "Still it's a habit that ought to be +carefully controlled and not, so to speak, be indulged out of +sentimental impulses." + +Foster felt embarrassed, although he thought he had said no more about +Carmen and Alice than was needed to make his narrative clear. + +"First of all," Lawrence resumed, "he takes up my defense, then he must +help Carmen, and I think deserved the trouble in which she involved +him. Next he seems to have been moved by my sister's anxiety." He +paused and gave Foster a curious quiet smile. "I wondered what Alice +would think of you and hope she was grateful." + +Foster saw Lucy's interest, and wondered whether he had told more than +he meant, but his comrade's amusement seemed uncalled for, and he +rejoined: "I imagined I'd made it plain that your sister wasn't the +only relative your carelessness alarmed." + +"You did. The situation wasn't without its humor, Jake. After you had +embarked on a number of strange adventures on my behalf, it must have +been galling to be suspected of having made away with me. However, I +understand that Alice didn't take this view?" + +"She did not," said Foster shortly, and Lawrence rang a bell. + +"Get me a C.P. telegram form," he ordered the waiter. + +The form was brought, and Lawrence filled it up and gave it to the man. +Then he fixed his eyes on Foster and remarked carelessly: "I've sent it +in your name, Jake, and not to my father. I thought somebody had +better break the comforting news to him, and briefly stated that you +had found me." + +"Oughtn't you to have added some particulars?" Mrs. Stephen asked. + +"On the whole, I don't think so. For one thing, Jake's taciturn +modesty rather becomes him, and the charges for an English telegram are +high." + +Foster said nothing, but he knew the message had been sent to Alice and +Lawrence was satisfied with him as his sister's lover. This was +something, but Lawrence's approval might not count for much. + +"That's done with," the latter resumed. "Since you didn't find Daly at +Banff, we have to decide if Carmen meant to deceive you and he never +intended going there. I rather think we had better leave it to Mrs. +Stephen and Lucy." + +"I imagine she told the truth," Lucy replied. "If she had loved the +man, she might, after all, have tried to protect him; but a selfish, +ambitious girl who found she had been cheated, would be capable of +ruining him in a fit of jealous rage." + +"But I didn't state that she was ambitious and selfish," objected +Foster. + +Lawrence's eyes twinkled. "You don't realize all your talents, Jake. +For one thing, you have a gift for narrative, and the portrait you drew +of Carmen with a stroke or two was lifelike. Then, when you met and +bluffed her into giving Daly away, you couldn't have taken a more +effective line if you had been an ambassador. What do you think, Mrs. +Stephen?" + +"Mr. Foster seems to have used all his advantages and the girl got a +shock that found out her weak points. I believe she meant to ruin her +worthless lover." + +"So do I," Lawrence agreed. "I expect you have made Jake sorry he was +firm, but I'd warned him about Carmen and she doesn't deserve much +pity. But why did Daly leave England and how did he find out that I'd +been at Banff?" + +"If you'll tell me what you have done since you left the Crossing, it +might help to solve the puzzle," Foster replied. + +Lawrence made a gesture of resignation. "I suppose it must be told. I +went to California and didn't get as well as I expected. There was a +good deal of sea-fog on the coast and after a time I went farther +south. That's one reason I didn't write; I felt languid and dejected +and didn't want to alarm my folks. Well, I tried Mexico and got rather +worse; besides I found lounging tiresome work. In consequence, I +joined a steamer going north and her doctor told me that dry cold +mountain air was the best cure for troubles like mine. I met Walters +on the voyage up the coast." + +"Perhaps you had better describe him," Lucy suggested. + +"Walters looks about my age and is thin and dark; an amusing fellow and +remarkably well informed. In fact, I couldn't guess his nationality; +he seemed to have been everywhere. He had good manners, but somehow +one missed----" + +"Something that good manners must be founded on," Lucy interposed. + +Foster saw that they had argued about the man before, because Lawrence +smiled indulgently. + +"Then how did he make your acquaintance?" he asked the girl. + +"That was not altogether Lawrence's fault. Walters was cleverer than +he thought." + +"And he mailed one of the letters that did not arrive?" + +"The fellow," Lawrence continued, "was a pleasant companion and when I +mentioned why I was traveling agreed that the mountains were best for +me. Told me about some friends of his whom the air had cured." + +"In short, he recommended your trying Banff," Lucy remarked. + +"He did me a good turn there. We separated at Seattle, but I found him +at Victoria, where I stopped some weeks. It was there I met Lucy, who +was going to Banff. I must explain that she's a mountaineer." + +The girl blushed. "I climbed in the Olympians twice with college +friends. They talked about exploring some of the northern glaciers +next summer, and as we wanted a change, I persuaded mother to spend a +month or two at a mountain resort where I could get some practice on +the ice." She paused and added in a grave voice: "I really don't climb +well, Mr. Foster, and doubt if I shall venture on the rocks again." + +"Well," resumed Lawrence, "we decided to go to Banff together. I got +better rapidly and we made a few easy excursions into the mountains, +but the weather was bad and we didn't like our hotel. Then Walters +turned up again and told us about this place. In fact, he was rather +enthusiastic about it and said we'd find good rock climbs at the door, +so we agreed to move." + +"And took Walters?" + +"He was an amusing fellow. He'd a way of finding something interesting +for one to do and was always ready when he was wanted; a very useful +man to have about." + +Foster imagined his comrade might have found the fellow about when he +was not wanted, but Mrs. Stephen's smile was illuminating. It seemed +to hint that Lawrence had found Walters useful because he took her off +his hands. Foster thought it curious that the man was satisfied with +his part, since Lucy was a very attractive girl. Walters had obviously +not attached himself to the party on her account. + +"As I got stronger we tried some harder climbs," Lawrence went on. +"Lucy is clever and steady on the ice; I'd had some practice on +Scawfell in winter when I was at home, and though Walters didn't know +much about the work his nerve is good. At length, we resolved to try +the sharp peak yonder." + +It was nearly dark, but Foster, looking up the valley, saw a white +summit gleam against the sky. The shoulders of the mountain had faded +to a pale gray, and the darker streak that filled a deep hollow marked +a glacier. + +"We started early and at first found the glacier rough but safe. +Walters had insisted on two guides; prospectors, used to the rocks, who +now and then took a tourist party out. The glacier brought us up some +height, but after a time the surface began to be broken by big +crevasses. We spent two hours picking our way across and at noon saw +we must find another route. The slope on the right would take us off +our line; on the left there were high, icy rocks that would puzzle a +member of the Alpine club." + +"We sat down and examined the mountain with the glasses. Above the +crags, a snowfield ran up to the foot of the last sharp ridge, but we +did not see how we could reach it. Ragged clouds drove across the +ridge and blowing snow streamed about the peak like mist. Lucy, +however, was keen on going on, and by and by one of the guides picked +out a _coulee_ that might take us up. _Coulee's_ good French-Canadian, +but Alpinists call it a _couloir_. It looked like a thin, white, +perpendicular streak on the face of the dark rock. But perhaps I'm +boring you with these particulars." + +Lucy gave Foster a meaning glance and he said, "No; I want to +understand the thing." + +"It was awkward to reach the _coulee_, because the glacier was badly +crevassed, but we got there. The gully was nearly precipitous; a +narrow trough that serves as a rubbish shoot for the mountain when the +thaw splits the rocks. I expect it's ground smooth in summer, but it +was filled with hard, slippery snow. We stopped again and studied it, +and I felt doubtful I about taking Lucy up, but she didn't want to go +back. Walters took my view and said we'd all go back, but he looked +disappointed and Lucy wouldn't agree." + +"I lost my temper," Lucy admitted. "I never liked Walters and when he +supported Lawrence I got obstinate. Besides, I thought he really +wanted to get rid of me." + +"Anyhow, we decided that one guide should take Lucy back down the +glacier." + +"Walters decided," Lucy objected. "It's important, Mr. Foster, that he +chose the guide. Be careful how you tell the rest, Lawrence." + +"He said she must take the best man, and one laughed and said that if +we meant to get up we'd better stick to him. Walters, however, sent +this fellow off with Lucy, and then we fastened on the rope and began +to climb. We got up perhaps a hundred feet by kicking steps in the +snow, but that's a tiring job for the leader, and when he found a crack +in the wall, where we could stop, the guide had had enough." + +"Why was it necessary to find a crack?" Foster asked. + +"One couldn't stand on the snow, and if we had tried to sit on it, we'd +have shot down to the bottom; for the most part, the walls were ground +smooth. When you go up a place like that, the leader kicks a little +hole as high as he can in front, and then stands in it while he makes +another. The rest put their feet in the holes as they follow. Well, +when we set off again I went first and had to use my ax because the +snow had hardened into ice, I soon found out I hadn't quite got better, +and was forced to stop when we were nearly half-way up. We lay down, +with our toes in the nicks, to rest, and I slid my flask down to +Walters when I'd had a drink. It was a big flask, and I'd got it +filled with brandy. I thought the guide took a remarkably long drink, +but he looked steady when he crawled up to take my place. + +"After that it was very slow work and we were glad when we found a knob +of rock sticking out of the ice. It had been ground into the shape of +a bridge pier by the rubbish shooting past. We stopped a bit and +argued if we should give it up, but the guide declared he knew a better +way down into the next valley and Walters seemed keen, so we ate +something, took another drink, and set off again. The slope was +dangerously steep and I thought the guide was using his ax wildly, but +we came to a deep crack in the wall and when Walters suggested that it +might help us out of the gully I threw off the rope. It would have +been of no use if I had fallen, and I meant to come down unless I saw a +fairly safe route to the snowfield. In fact, I think I meant to give +up the climb and only went to find an excuse for this. + +"The crack was not quite vertical and gave a good hold, but when I'd +got up eighteen or twenty feet I came to an awkward slab. It bulged +out, but I found a hold for my hands and scrambled over the edge. I +managed this because the alternative was falling off and shooting to +the bottom of the _coulee,_ but perhaps because I was weaker than I +thought, I wrenched my shoulder during the lift. Anyhow, I couldn't +use my arm. It appeared afterwards that a ligament was strained, and +the joint pinches yet. + +"For a minute or two I thought hard. There was no way up, and I hadn't +nerve enough to lower myself over the ledge by one arm. When I moved +the other cautiously it hurt worse than at first. I called to the +others and told them how I was fixed, but got a shock when the guide +looked up. + +"'Can't get down?' he said. 'Then why in thunder don't you jump?' + +"'The fool's drunk,' Walters explained and added that he'd try to bring +me the rope. + +"I told him to throw me the end, as there was a knob I could double it +round and then slide down both parts. The trouble was that Walters had +nothing much to stand on when he tried to throw the coil. He lost his +balance, slid down the gully, and jerked the guide out of his step. I +saw Walters' ax shoot down in front, but the guide stuck to his, and +the blade dragging over the rough surface checked them a bit. For all +that, it looked as if they'd go straight to the bottom and they would +hardly have got there alive, but the small rock wasn't far below. I +don't think I breathed while I waited to see if it would bring them up. + +"Walters struck the rock first and was very quick with the rope; in +fact, I was astonished at his coolness, because he must have got a +heavy blow. He stopped the other fellow and they lay on the rock for a +few minutes. Then Walters shouted: 'He's not to be trusted, and I +can't climb back alone.' + +"Well, it was some moments before I could face the situation, but I +told him to get down as fast as he could and send a rescue party with +the other guide. He objected, but admitted that he saw no other plan, +and I felt desperately lonely as I watched them crawl down the +_couloir_. I don't know that I felt much worse afterwards, although it +began to snow and my hands and feet seemed to turn to ice; two of my +left fingers aren't of much use yet. The ledge was wide enough to sit +on, but slanted, and one had to be careful to keep from slipping off. +The snow stopped, but when dark came I'd given up hope of the rescue +party's arriving in time. As a matter of fact, they were nearly too +late, and I was in bed a month after they got me down; but Lucy can +tell you the rest. You see, she saved my life." + +A wave of color flushed Lucy's face. "When I reached the hotel I felt +uneasy, and when it got dark and Lawrence didn't come I was alarmed. I +had kept the guide who brought me home, and sent him to find some of +his friends at a ranch not far off. They went back to look for +Lawrence." + +"You went back," said Lawrence reprovingly. + +"As far as the first big crevasse; they wouldn't let me cross. But +before this we met Walters and the other guide, who was drunk. Walters +wanted to come with us, but I wouldn't allow him." + +"You thought he was too tired?" Foster suggested. + +"No," said Lucy quietly, "it wasn't altogether that." + +Foster saw she would say no more about it, which seemed significant, +and he let her go on. + +"There is not much more to tell," she said with a shiver. "I was very +anxious while I waited behind a hummock of ice, but at last I heard the +men coming; they were carrying Lawrence, who couldn't walk. We got him +down to the hotel--and I think that's all." + +"But what became of Walters?" Foster asked. + +"He stayed for a few days, and we were glad when he had to leave. He +was in the way when Lawrence was ill." + +"Thank you," said Foster gravely and was silent for a time. + +He understood why his comrade called Miss Stephen Lucy, although he had +not known her very long. She had, no doubt, saved his life by hurrying +off the rescue party and had afterwards taken care of him when he was +ill. He thought Lawrence lucky, but was not justified in +congratulating him yet, and had something else to think about. Lucy +suspected Walters, though Lawrence did not, and Foster imagined that +she had some ground for doing so. She had an object for making +Lawrence tell his story with full particulars, because it must have +been painful to recall the matter. + +"We'll say no more about it now, Miss Stephen," he remarked. "Lawrence +and I are old friends, and I'm heavily in your debt." + +Lucy looked up with a smile and blush, and Foster understood what she +meant when she answered: "I hope you will always be his friend." + + + + +XXV + +FOSTER SETS OFF AGAIN + +After dinner the party returned to the veranda, which was warm and well +lighted. Mrs. Stephen resumed her sewing, Lawrence settled himself +comfortably in his big chair, and Foster engaged Lucy in careless talk. +She had a pleasant voice and pretty, animated gestures, and after the +strain he had borne there was a charm in relaxing and lazily enjoying +the society of an attractive girl. The trouble was that he could not +be careless long. Lawrence was inclined to put off disagreeable +things, and would no doubt sooner leave disturbing subjects alone; but +Foster had only kept half his promise to Alice and time that might be +valuable was being lost. + +"Your adventure made an interesting story, Lawrence, but you took +unusual trouble to make us understand all that happened," he said at +length. + +Lawrence's gesture hinted at humorous resignation. "You're a restless +fellow, Jake, but I hoped you'd wait until to-morrow. You see, I've +been warned to keep quiet." + +Foster looked at Lucy and imagined that he had her support; she no +doubt knew his comrade's weakness for procrastination. + +"I'll try not to disturb you much," he replied. + +"Then you and Lucy insisted on my relating the thing at length. I felt +I had to indulge you." + +Lucy's smile hinted that Foster must be firm. "That wasn't quite +enough. You had another motive." + +"Oh, well," said Lawrence, "I suppose I wanted to recall the thing and +see how it looked in the light of what you told me about your exploits +in Scotland." + +"They make it look different, don't they?" Lucy remarked. + +Lawrence gave her a good-humored smile and then turned to Foster. +"Lucy's cleverer than I, but I really thought she was rather hard on +Walters." He paused for a moment, and then resumed thoughtfully: "You +must remember that my object was to keep out of Daly's way, and I +thought I was safe as long as I could do so. One would have expected +him to play a lone hand." + +"Didn't you think there was something suspicious about Walters' turning +up again after he'd learned your name? There then were rather too many +coincidences." + +"Suppose you enumerate them," Lawrence suggested. + +"He urged you to try the mountains and followed you to Banff. Then +I've no doubt he proposed the trip up the glacier, for which he chose +the guides. He sent the best back with Miss Stephen, and while this +was the proper thing, it's curious that the other guide got drunk. +Walters gave him your flask. Then he fell when he threw the rope--at +the only place where a fall would not have led to his shooting down the +_couloir_. Afterwards, although speed was urgent, he was very slow in +going back for help." + +"Besides, he knew exposure to the frost would be very dangerous for +you; you told him you had been ill," Lucy interposed. + +"I did," Lawrence agreed. "Of course if the fellow had wanted to make +an end of me, it's obvious that he took a clever line; but people don't +do that kind of thing for nothing. Suppose he was a friend of Daly's, +it certainly wouldn't have suited the latter's plans." + +"That," said Mrs. Stephen, "is what Lucy and I thought. You can be +frank, Mr. Foster, because we know Lawrence's story." + +"He was very wise to tell it you," Foster replied, and turned to his +partner. "You imagined that Daly only wanted to extort money? Well, +my explanation is that he had another object. We'll go back to the +night Fred Hulton was shot. You thought you saw the watchman in the +passage; was he far in front?" + +"Perhaps a dozen yards; it's a long passage." + +"He was going towards the office and stopped at the door, with his back +to the light?" + +"Yes; if he'd gone in I would have seen his face." + +"And the remark you made indicated that you thought him the watchman ?" + +"Suggested it," said Lawrence thoughtfully. "There might have been a +doubt." + +"Exactly! The man saw you. The light shone out from the office behind +him." + +"Yes," said Lawrence, "I see your point. I don't think the fellow +could have been certain I didn't get a glimpse of his face." + +"You said nothing about the meeting at the inquiry, which might look as +if you had been warned not to do so." + +"Nobody asked a question that led up to it. I didn't learn he wasn't +the watchman until afterwards." + +Foster turned to the others. "I think my story has shown you that we +have to deal with a gang of clever criminals. You'll note that +Lawrence saw the only man who knows the truth about Fred Hulton's +death." + +Mrs. Stephen made a sign of understanding. Lucy shivered, then her +eyes sparkled angrily, but Lawrence looked obstinate. + +"Jake," he said rather dryly, "you ought to have been a barrister! You +have made a clever use of the evidence, but it has some weak points and +leaves room for doubt. What are you going to do about it?" + +"I'm going to start again to-morrow to look for Daly," Foster replied. + +Lucy gave him a grateful glance, and Mrs. Stephen began to talk about +something else. By and by she turned to Lawrence, who looked tired, +and reminded him that it was past the time at which he ought to go to +bed. He grumbled a little but went, and soon afterwards Mrs. Stephen +left the others. Foster thought the girl wished this, but had not +noticed that she gave her mother a hint. He felt rather awkward, but +there was something to be said. + +"I suppose you are going to marry my partner," he remarked. + +"Yes," she replied, with a pretty flush. "Are you surprised?" + +"I'm not surprised that he should wish it. But somehow I hadn't +contemplated Lawrence's marrying." + +The girl's color deepened. "Are you very frank, or only tactless?" + +"I was stupid," said Foster with some confusion. "But I didn't mean +what you think. Far from it! My partner has made good, I'm glad you +had the wisdom and pluck to see this." + +"He is a very dear fellow," she answered with a soft gleam in her eyes +that moved Foster. Then she smiled. "You are forgiven--and I must +confess that at first my mother took the view I thought you hinted at. +She said Lawrence ought to wait until all risk of the past's being +brought to light was gone. But I suppose when you guessed the truth it +was something of a shock?" + +"No," said Foster. "Although I haven't known you long, I feel that I +won't lose my partner when he marries you. I was grateful when you +said you hoped I would always be his friend." + +Lucy nodded. "I saw you understood. Before we met I was rather +jealous of you--and curious. I think Lawrence sometimes makes mistakes +about people." + +"Walters, for example? Well, I like you to be careful about Lawrence, +but hope you don't feel anxious now you have seen me." + +"He needs a man friend and there's something about you that makes one +feel you can be trusted," said Lucy, who gave him a level glance. "You +look ingenuous, but perhaps that's deceptive, in a way. I mean that I +didn't quite understand you until you told us about your adventures in +Scotland." + +"Ah!" said Foster, "Carmen once said something like that, but she was +blunt. She told me I wasn't quite such a fool as I look. However, I +haven't much ground for boasting about my exploits. The main results +were that I got myself suspected by the police, warned off Daly, and +made Lawrence's father think I had murdered him. Now I'd much rather +look a simpleton than a homicide!" + +Lucy laughed, but her eyes were soft. "We all make mistakes, Mr. +Foster, but your object was good. Besides, I feel that you will carry +it out." + +Foster hesitated for a few moments, studying the girl. She had courage +and he liked the way she took care of his comrade. In some respects, +Lawrence needed to be guarded. + +"I hoped you would stop when your mother went," he said. + +She nodded. "Yes; I knew you had something to say." + +"It's important. But first of all, I expect you had a bad time when +Lawrence didn't come back from the mountain." + +"I shall not forget it," Lucy said with a shudder. "While I waited and +wondered why he didn't come I thought the anxiety intolerable, but it +was worse after we met Walters and the drunken guide. He wanted to +join us, but I knew he was somehow to blame." + +"Afterwards you had to wait alone upon the glacier. That wouldn't make +you think any better of him." + +"It did not," Lucy agreed, with a hard, fixed look. "I--you see, +Lawrence was my lover--I spent two or three hours in agonizing +suspense. I knew what I should feel when I stopped, but couldn't go on +with the others, because I might have kept them back. It was freezing +hard and now and then a little snow fell, but I scarcely noticed this; +I was listening, as I hope I shall never listen again. Sometimes the +ice cracked and a snow-bridge fell into the crevasse, but that was all, +and afterwards the silence was awful. It seemed as if the men would +never come. I couldn't go to meet them because of the crevasse; I +dream about the horrible black opening yet. Lawrence was on the other +side, out of my reach; he might be slowly freezing on the _couloir_, +and I couldn't help. But I knew he was suffering for Walters' +negligence or perhaps his treachery." + +Foster made a sign of sympathetic comprehension. "You hate him for +this?" + +"Yes," said Lucy frankly; "but not altogether because I'm vindictive. +The man who could make people suffer as Lawrence and I did ought to be +punished." + +"He ought. Well, I'm going to warn Lawrence, and no doubt the proper +thing would be to be satisfied with this, but somehow I'm not. You +see, Walters probably doesn't know we suspect him." + +The girl's eyes narrowed and Foster knew she was afraid, but did not +think fear was her strongest emotion. + +"You mean he may try again?" + +"That is what I mean. If he comes back, you must watch him, but keep +him here until I arrive. If it's impossible for me to come, send for +the police." + +"Yes," said Lucy quietly, "I'll try." + +"There's another risk," said Foster. "He may send an accomplice; +they're a well-organized gang. In this matter, I'd sooner trust you +than Lawrence." He stopped for a moment and gave her an apologetic +glance. "Perhaps I've done wrong to alarm and put this heavy load on +you." + +"No," she said resolutely. "I have promised to marry Lawrence and must +help him." + +Then she rose and gave Foster her hand. "I must thank you for your +confidence. If the need comes, I don't think I'll fail you." + +Foster felt satisfied when she left him. Lucy was clever and had +pluck. He had given her a hard part, but she would not shrink. One +could trust a woman who was fighting for her lover. + +After breakfast next morning, Mrs. Stephen showed Foster some +photographs of the mountains, in one or two of which Lucy and Lawrence +had a place, and he asked: "Have you a portrait of Walters?" + +"No; the man who took these was staying here, and one day asked Walters +to join the group he was posing, but he refused." + +"How did he get out of it?" + +Lawrence, who had come in with Lucy, laughed. "Rather neatly. Said he +was a modest sentimentalist and would sooner leave his memory printed +on our hearts!" + +"One must admit that he did something of the kind," Lucy remarked. + +"Will you or Mrs. Stephen describe his looks?" Foster asked. + +The girl did so and then inquired: "Why didn't you ask Lawrence?" + +"If you want an accurate description of a man, it's better to ask a +women. Our classifications are rather vague; we say he's all right, a +good sport, or perhaps an outsider. You note all his idiosyncrasies, +the way he talks, the color of his hair----" + +"I suppose we do," Mrs. Stephen agreed with a smile. "You are rather +shrewd." + +"I don't see why that should surprise my friends, but it sometimes +does," Foster rejoined and went to the flag station to ask about the +train. + +It stopped for him an hour later and he set off again on his search for +Daly, which was complicated by the need for being on his guard against +a man he did not know. It looked as if Walters had told Daly that +Lawrence was in British Columbia, and he had come out to join his +accomplice; but, after all, if Foster did not know Walters, the man did +not know him. Another thought gave him some comfort: Walters had +plotted against Lawrence because his evidence might be dangerous, but +probably knew nothing about Daly's blackmailing plan. The latter +would, no doubt, consider any money he could extort was his private +perquisite, and might try to protect his victim for a time. + +As the train sped through the mountains Foster felt very much at a +loss. Indeed, unless luck favored him, he thought he might as well +give up the search, and by and by got off at a mining town. He had no +particular reason for doing so, but felt that to go on to Vancouver +would be to leave the place where his last clew broke off too far away. + +The town, for the most part, was built of wood, and some of the smaller +and older houses of logs, with ugly square fronts that hid the roof. A +high, plank sidewalk ran down the main street, so that foot passengers +might avoid the mud, but the ruts and holes were now hidden by beaten +snow. At one end stood a big smelter, which filled the place with +acrid fumes, and the scream of saws rose from sheds beside the river, +where rusty iron smoke-stacks towered above sawdust dumps. The green +torrent was partly covered by cakes of grinding ice. All round, in +marked contrast to the utilitarian ugliness below, dark pines ran up to +the glittering snowfields on the shoulders of the peaks. Foster went +to a big new hotel, which he found dirty and too hot. Its bare walls +were cracked and exuded resin; black drops from the central heater +pipes stained the rotunda floor, which was torn by the spikes on the +river-Jacks' boots. An electric elevator made a horrible noise. The +supper he got in the big dining-room, where an electric organ played, +was, however, very good, and he afterwards sat rather drearily in the +rotunda, watching the men who came in and out through the revolving +door. + +There is not much domestic life in the new Western towns, whose +inhabitants, for the most part, live at hotels, and the rotundas of the +latter are used as a lounge by anybody who prefers them to the street. +In consequence, Foster could not tell who were guests and who were not. +By and by he filled his pipe, and a man who was lighting his held out +the match, which Foster took with a word of thanks. It might have been +a trifling politeness, but he thought the other had waited until he was +ready. + +"You're a stranger," the man remarked. + +"Yes," said Foster, "I've just come in." + +"Looking for business?" + +Foster quietly studied the man. He was neatly dressed and looked keen +and alert. It was possible that he was a storekeeper, or a real estate +agent, which is a common occupation in a Western town. + +"Well," he said, "I don't often let a chance of a trade go past, but +when you're in a strange place, the trouble is to tell if you've got a +snap or not." + +"Sure thing," agreed the other. "What's your line?" + +"Dressed lumber." + +"Then I can't do much for you, but there's quite a lot of new +construction planned and the boys will get busy as soon as the frost +breaks," said the man. + +He went on to talk about the trade of the town and province, and on the +whole Foster was glad he had been in British Columbia before and knew +something about the country. It was better to be cautious and he did +not want to show he came from the east. + +By and by another man crossed the floor and picked up a newspaper that +lay near. As he did so, he gave Foster a careless glance, and then +went back to the seat he had left. This was at some distance from the +heaters and near the entrance, to which people kept passing, but it +commanded the spot that Foster and his companion occupied. Foster, +however, could not detect him watching them, and soon afterwards the +other man went out. + +Nothing happened next day, but Foster stopped and in the evening called +for Pete, whom he had sent to a different hotel, and strolled down the +snowy street. It was very cold and few people were about. A half-moon +hung above the summit of the range, and the climbing pines cut in +ragged black masses against the snow. After crossing a bridge on the +outskirts of the town they stopped and looked about. + +A few half-finished houses stood among blackened stumps in a cleared +belt, where there were rubbish heaps and willows were springing up, but +a little farther on the forest rose in a shadowy wall. It was quiet +except for the roar of the river, and Foster shivered as he filled his +pipe. + +"It's a nipping wind. I'd better go down the bank a bit before I try +to get a light," he said. + +He pushed through the willows growing beside the creek, but dropped his +matchbox, and Pete came to help him in the search. They found it, but +before he could strike a match a man stopped at the end of the bridge +and looked back up the street. Foster, imagining he was the fellow who +had spoken to him at the hotel, touched Pete, and they stood very still. + +The man might have seen them had he glanced their way, although the +branches broke the outline of their figures, but he was looking back, +as if he expected somebody to come up behind, and after a few moments +went on again. He crossed the clearing towards a fence that seemed to +indicate a road following the edge of the forest, and vanished into the +gloom of the trees. Then, as Foster lighted his pipe, another man came +quickly across the bridge and took the same direction as the first. + +"I wunner if yon was what ye might ca' a coincidence," Pete said softly. + +"So do I, but don't see how it concerns us," Foster replied. "I think +we'll take the road straight in front." + +They followed a track that led through the bush at a right angle to the +other. The snow was beaten firm as if by the passage of logs or +sledges, and there were broad gaps among the trees, which rose in +ragged spires, sprinkled with clinging snow. In places, the track +glittered in the moonlight, but, for the most part, one side was marked +by a belt of gray shadow. After a time, they heard a branch spring +back; then there was a crackle of undergrowth, and a man came out of an +opening ahead. It was the man who had first passed them; Foster knew +him by his rather short fur coat. For no obvious reason and +half-instinctively, he drew back into the gloom. The man did not see +them and went on up the track. + +"Yon's a weel-kent trick in my trade," Pete remarked. "When it's no' +convenient to be followed, ye send an inquisitive pairson off on +anither road. But I would like to see if he has got rid o' the ither +fellow." + +They waited some minutes, but nobody else appeared, and Foster surmised +that the first man knew the ground and the other did not. The fellow +had vanished among the trees, but after a time they saw him again, +crossing a belt of moonlight some distance in front, and Foster felt he +must find out where he was going. + +By and by the indistinct figure vanished again, and pushing on +cautiously through the shadow, they came to a clearing at the foot of +the range. Steep rocks rose above the narrow open space, but although +the trail went no farther there was nobody about. Standing behind a +fir trunk, Foster searched the edge of the bush, but saw nothing except +a ruined shack and some ironwork sticking out of the snow. He could +not examine the shack, because if the other man was near he would see +him when he left the trees. After waiting a few minutes, he touched +Pete and they turned back silently. + + + + +XXVI + +THE REAL-ESTATE AGENT + +Next morning Foster got up in the dark and walked briskly down the main +street to the bridge. Lights were beginning to blink in the houses he +passed and there was a pungent smell of burning wood. In front, the +forest rolled upwards in a blurred, dark mass, but he could not see the +mountains. The air was still and felt damp upon his skin, and he knew +a sudden rise of temperature accounted for the obscurity. The main +thing, however, was that there was nobody to watch him, and he set off +along the road he had taken on the previous night. + +He had some trouble to keep the trail when he plunged in among the +trees, but day had broken when he reached the clearing, and a faint +gray light shone through the haze. There was no obvious reason why the +stranger's disappearance at the spot should interest him, but his +suspicions were quickly excited and it looked as if the fellow had +tried to make his acquaintance in order to learn his business in the +town. He had come early, hoping to find footprints that might give him +a hint, but was disappointed. There were a number of marks, but they +had lost their sharpness and he could not tell which had been made +recently. + +In the meantime, the light was growing and he saw that the shack at the +foot of the rocks had partly fallen down. Thick wooden beams and props +lay beside the ironwork he had noticed on his last visit. It was +obvious that he was looking at a mineral claim that had been abandoned +after some development work had been done, while the trampled snow +indicated that somebody had been removing the material not long since. +Passing the heap of rusty iron, from which the snow was beginning to +shrink, he found a narrow opening in the foot of the hill. This was a +test adit, and the tilt of the strata indicated that its slope was +steep. The stone that had been taken out showed that it did not +penetrate far, and Foster saw no reason for entering. + +He next studied the rocks, and although he saw no path, imagined that +one could get up that way, but could not see why anybody should wish to +do so, and the snow did not seem to have been disturbed. After a +minute or two he turned back into the wood with a gesture of +disappointment. + +The man he had followed had apparently come there to meet somebody, but +although the mine was conveniently near the town it was a cold and +cheerless spot for a rendezvous, Foster surmised from this that secrecy +was important, but after all there was nothing to indicate that the +matter had anything to do with him. As he went back he heard a musical +humming in the tops of the pines and a lump of wet snow, slipping from +a branch, struck his face. The humming grew louder until the wood was +filled with sound, and he began to feel clammy and hot. A warm Chinook +wind from the Pacific was sweeping up the valley, driving back the +frost. + +When he reached the town the snow was wet and the lights were out, but +the post office was open, and having telegraphed his new address, he +went in to ask if there was any mail for him. A girl was busy behind a +lettered brass wicket, but did not look up, and Foster saw the man in +whom he was interested standing among some others farther along the +counter. The fellow came towards him. + +"Been for a walk?" he said. "You get up early." + +"I'm used to that," Foster answered with a careless smile. "Anyhow, I +want my mail, and you enjoy breakfast better if you've been out first." + +"Sure thing," agreed the other. "But you want to put on rubber shoes +when a Chinook wind strikes this town." + +Then the girl clerk looked up and when Foster inquired for letters +threw him two. His companion asked for his, giving the name of +Telford, and she indicated the lettering on the wicket. + +"Farther along, where you came from! Can't you read the alphabet?" + +"I can, now I see it," said the other good-humoredly as he turned back. + +On the whole, Foster was glad he had picked up the letters as the girl +threw them down. It is customary in Western cities for people to call +for their mail and girl clerks are sometimes curt, but she seemed to +think it strange that the fellow had come to the wrong wicket. If he +had had an object for doing so, he had learned Foster's name, but the +latter did not think he had seen the postmarks or that one letter had +an English stamp. Still, he had noted that Foster's boots were wet, +which indicated that the latter had gone farther than the post office. + +He went out before he opened the envelopes, and then glancing at the +letters put them in his pocket with a thrill of satisfaction, meaning +to read them carefully after breakfast. Entering the hotel, he hung up +his coat and went to the dining-room. He was promptly served, and when +he went out after finishing his meal, saw Telford, who had apparently +just returned from the post office, standing in the passage, which was +rather dark. It looked as if he had been hanging up his coat, but he +stood near Foster's, and then moved on abruptly as another man came up. + +Foster met them and saw that the last was the man whom he had +half-suspected of watching Telford on the first evening. As he passed, +he took the letters from his coat, and entering the rotunda sat down +and lighted his pipe. It was possible that Telford had meant to search +his pockets, but had been prevented by the appearance of the other, and +Foster frowned. He was feeling the strain of the constant watchfulness +and getting tired of intrigue. As a matter of fact, he hated that kind +of thing, and it would be a keen relief when he could attend to his +proper business and finish with the need for caution. In the meantime, +he did not know if he had found a fresh clew or not. After all, he had +not much ground for suspecting Telford. + +Then Foster forgot his perplexities as he took out the letters. The +first was from Lucy Stephen, who said that the doctor had visited +Lawrence and was satisfied with his progress. She added that Foster +knew Lawrence disliked writing letters, but she wanted to reassure him +and wish him good luck. The note was short, but seemed to put Foster +on a footing of intimate friendship that he was grateful for, and he +thought Lucy had written with this object. + +The other was from Alice Featherstone and his heart beat as he studied +it. She did not say much; they had still no news of Lawrence and her +father was very restless and anxious, while she feared her mother felt +the suspense. But she knew Foster would make every effort and would +not fail them; there was nobody else who could help. All she said +struck a note of quiet confidence. Her faith was unshaken; she trusted +him. + +Foster thrilled and his weariness and dejection vanished. Alice would +have got Lawrence's telegram soon after she wrote and she had proof of +his honesty now. Still, he had only kept half his promise, and +although he had undertaken a task that needed abilities he doubted if +he possessed, he meant to keep the other half. He was hemmed in by +difficulties and might make mistakes, but somehow he was going to make +good. + +For a time he sat in a corner, recalling what Alice had said in England +and how she had looked. He pictured her standing in the dark-paneled +library at the Garth, with eyes that sparkled as she spoke in his +defense, sitting with a smile in the half-light by the big hearth in +the hall, and waiting for him in the orchard. She moved through all +the scenes with the same calm grace; even in her anger--and he had seen +her angry--there was a proud reserve. But Alice stood above all other +women; there was nobody like her. + +Then he got up with a resolute movement. Dreams and memories would not +help, and he must get to work. To begin with, he would try to find out +something about Telford, and went to the office, where the clerk was +unoccupied. As a rule, nobody knows more about everybody else's +business than the clerk of a Western hotel. + +"Is there much doing in real estate just now?" he asked. + +"There will be soon. The mines are paying well and the bosses are +planning new developments. Then there's a big scheme for opening up +the ranching land in the bench country. That means a bigger city. Are +you looking for building lots?" + +"My line's dressed lumber, but when you get a building boom you want +material. I suppose Mr. Telford does a good trade?" + +"Talks as if he was going to, but he hasn't begun yet," the clerk +replied with a smile that hinted that he had expected the inquiry. + +"Then he hasn't been here long?" + +"Only came into town a week since," said the clerk, rather dryly. +"When things look like humming these fellows generally do come along. +But you want to go slow when you deal with a real-estate man, unless +you know all about him." + +"Yes," said Foster thoughtfully, "as a rule, that's true. Thank you, +anyhow." + +He went back to his seat and lighted his pipe again. He had learned +that Telford was a stranger and had apparently thought it advisable to +account for his visiting the town. Foster saw that he ought to have +guessed the fellow was not a resident when he asked for his mail, +because had he been in business in the city he would have had his +private box at the post office. Moreover he imagined that the clerk +knew he really wanted to find out something about Telford, and thought +him clumsy, but this did not matter. He had been told he had an +ingenuous look, which was rather an advantage, since it suited the part +he meant to play. He did not want people to think him clever, but they +must not suspect that he was pretending to be dull. Remembering his +mistakes, he smiled as he admitted that there was not much danger of +this. By and by Telford came in and sat down in the next chair. + +"Nothing doing this morning and the street's all mush," he said. "If +you're not busy, would you like a game of pool?" + +Foster agreed. His only business was to find out Telford's, and the +man had given him an opportunity. The pool room is an institution in +Canadian towns, but is not, as a rule, much frequented in the morning +when trade is good. They had no trouble in getting a table and began +to play for a small stake, which Telford insisted on. Foster did not +know much about pool, and indeed had seldom had time for games, but he +had a steady hand and, somewhat to his surprise, won. Telford, who +raised the stake, won the next game, but was afterwards beaten. + +In the meantime, Foster had studied his game. The man made some clever +strokes, but bungled others. He was not steady enough, but on the +whole Foster imagined he meant to let him win. For all that, he did +not think the other was playing a common trick with the object of +leading him on. The amount of the stake was not large enough for this. + +"Well," said Telford, "I guess you're too good for me. Suppose we sit +down and take a smoke. I'll play you again another day." + +"What you want to do is to let up on the drinks the night before," +remarked a man who was standing by. "If you were as cool and steady as +he is, you'd beat him easy." + +"Perhaps that's so," said Telford with a good-humored laugh and gave +Foster a cigar. + +"Are you going to make expenses this trip?" he asked. + +"I can't say yet," Foster replied. "Anyhow, you don't lose much by +taking a look round, and I sometimes go outside my regular line." + +"Well, if you feel like speculating in building lots, I might put you +wise." + +Foster pondered. He knew that gambling on unused land was popular in +Canada, in spite of taxes planned to prevent it, and while there are +respectable real estate agents, the fringe of the profession is +occupied by sharpers who prey upon what is fast becoming a national +vice. Confiding strangers with money to invest are often swindled, and +there was an obvious motive for Telford's trying to cultivate his +acquaintance. On the whole, however, he did not think the fellow meant +to victimize him in this way, though he was perhaps willing that Foster +should suspect him of such a plan. If so, it might be better to +indulge him. + +"As a rule, I have a use for all the money I've got," he remarked. +"Still if I could find a lot that was bound to go up----" + +The other followed the lead and talked about city extension and the +development of the neighboring land. He seemed to know his subject, +and Foster was beginning to think his suspicions mistaken when Telford +carelessly interpolated a few adroit questions about his usual +occupation. The questions were difficult to answer without telling +more than it was advisable that the other should know, or, what was +equally to be avoided, showing that Foster was on his guard. He was +now nearly sure that the fellow was an accomplice of Daly's, and the +line he had resolved on would be difficult. + +He had to deal with a clever rogue who probably knew something about +him and meant to find out more. In consequence, there was no use in +trying to pose as an unsophisticated simpleton; he must, so to speak, +play up to the fellow and persuade him that any suspicions he +entertained were about the latter's designs upon his money. With this +object, he disputed some of Telford's opinions and presently proved a +statement of his wrong. + +Telford looked embarrassed and Foster thought he did it very well. + +"Perhaps I was putting it a bit too high, but the deal ought to turn +out a snap if you can wait a while," he said, and laughed. "Anyhow +I've got to give you bedrock facts after the way you caught me out. +Say, you're pretty smart!" + +"You're apt to get stung over a land deal unless you're careful," +Foster modestly replied. + +It was a relief when Telford said they would stop talking business and +proposed a visit to a bar. Foster felt mentally exhausted and thought +a drink would brace him. He did not see Telford at dinner and kept out +of his way during the afternoon, but the man came into the dining-room +when supper was served. The room was large and furnished with separate +tables, but Foster thought he knew the faces of the regular customers +and noticed that a stranger sat at a table by himself. + +Telford made for this table, which seemed natural, since there was most +room there, but a few moments afterwards the man whom Foster suspected +of watching him left his place. Crossing the floor carelessly, but in +such a way that a pillar hid his approach, he sat down near the other +two. Foster admitted that he might not have remarked this had he not +been suspicious and keenly watchful. The thing looked significant, +particularly when a waitress came across, frowning, with some dishes. +The man must have had an object for changing his place after he had +given his order, because in the small Canadian towns waitresses deal +firmly with troublesome customers. + +Telford did not seem to know the stranger and did not speak until the +man politely handed him a cruet-stand. He did not say much after this, +but Foster could not see him without leaning forward, because some +other people sat down between. Still he felt a puzzling curiosity +about the fellow, and after supper went to the rotunda where the man +presently sat down not far off. He was young and vigorous, but walked +with a slight limp as if one knee was stiff. His eyes were dark and he +had a rather engaging smile when one of the rest offered him a +newspaper. Telford was not about, but the other man strolled in. + +Foster's curiosity got stronger. He could not remember having met the +man he was studying, but had a vague feeling that he ought to know him. +The strange thing was that he had not expected him to limp, but this +was perhaps accounted for by his athletic figure. After a time, the +fellow put down the newspaper and went off towards the bar, while +Foster, who found he had run out of tobacco, went to his room. + +When he got out of the elevator, he saw the other going along a passage +in front, which he thought curious, because he could not have stayed +more than a few moments in the bar. Moreover his limp was not +noticeable now he imagined himself alone. Foster went on quietly, +keeping his distance, and knitted his brows in thoughtful surprise when +the other opened a door. The man, who did not seem to know Telford, +had gone into his room. + +When the door shut he heard another step and saw, as he had +half-expected, the man who had watched Telford entering the passage, +Foster immediately turned his head and went on to his room, where he +sat down in the nearest chair. He had got something of a shock, since +he now knew why he had studied the fellow with the limp. His brain had +been unconsciously occupied with a description Lucy Stephen had given +him. The man who had gone into Telford's room was Walters. + + + + +XXVII + +THE MINE + +When Foster was thinking of going to bed Pete, whom he had not seen all +day, came into the rotunda, and Foster remarked that his boots were +very wet. + +"It's saft ootside an' I've been paidlin' in the snow," he said and, +with the poacher's instinctive caution, put his feet out of sight +beneath a table. + +"Where have you been in the dark?" Foster asked. + +"I thought I'd maybe better watch the bridge over yon bit creek." + +Foster frowned. It looked as if he had not much talent for detective +work and could only concentrate upon one point at a time. While he had +been content to watch what was going on at the hotel, Pete had watched +the bridge, and had found out something. Foster admitted that such +success as he had had was rather due to luck than ability. + +"Well," he said, "what did you see there?" + +"To begin with, the man we followed cam' doon the street and went into +a shop; and I allooed they might keep something I wanted. He bought a +basket." + +"A basket?" + +"Just that," said Pete. "One o' they cheap baskets ye put grosseries +in when ye gang by train." + +Foster nodded. On Canadian railways, economical second-class +passengers often carry provisions instead of using the meal stations. + +"He bought some tinned meat and biscuits," Pete resumed. "Then some +tea and a wee spirit-stove." + +"There's no train until to-morrow and I imagine the fellow wouldn't be +satisfied with canned meat, so long as he could get something better +when the cars stopped." + +Pete grinned. "I'm no' saying he meant to tak' the train. It looked +mair like he was going to picnic in the woods." + +"Ah!" said Foster abruptly. "I suppose you followed the man?" + +"Far enough to see him tak' the road we went. Then I cam' back. Ye +see, I kent where he was going." + +Foster made a sign of agreement, because it was obvious that Telford +was going to the shack at the mine. He understood how the fellow had +got out without his seeing him, since it is usual in Canada to have a +separate entrance to a hotel bar and he had stupidly been satisfied +with watching the hall. + +"He has gone to meet somebody; but why did he take the provisions?" + +"Maybe he wanted to give them to the ither man." + +"But why should the other need the food?" + +"Weel," said Pete, "if I was looking for a hidie-hole convenient to the +town, I'd no' find much fault with yon' auld mine. Maybe it's dry, an' +the frost wouldna' get far in." + +Foster started, for he thought Pete had guessed right. He and Lawrence +had camped in the open in colder weather than was often felt in British +Columbia, and as wood was plentiful, there was no reason the man should +not make a fire after dark, if he could find an outlet for the smoke. +He must now find out who was hiding in the mine, but thought he knew, +for vague suspicions suddenly got clear. + +To begin with, the fellow who watched Telford at the hotel was either a +policeman or a private detective in Hulton's pay. Then Foster had lost +Daly's track at Banff, which was not very far off, and taking it for +granted that Telford belonged to the gang, it was logical to suppose +that he had arranged a meeting with Daly and Walters. On arrival Daly +had found that the town was watched, but was either unable to leave it +without being followed or detained by his business with the others. In +consequence, he had taken refuge in the mine. + +Foster sent Pete away and smoked another pipe. He would have liked to +visit the mine at once, but if he went, would meet Telford coming back +or find him when he reached the spot, and he must see Daly alone. He +ought, of course, to warn the man he thought a detective, but did not +mean to do so, and this resolve brought up a problem he had tried to +solve before: what could he offer Daly in return for his keeping +Lawrence's secret? + +If the fellow had killed Fred Hulton, it was unthinkable that he should +help him to escape. Foster felt that he had perhaps, in a sense, +already become Daly's accomplice, but meant to save his comrade and +keep his promise to Alice. He would see Daly in the morning and decide +then what line to take; after all, luck might help him again. Then he +knocked out his pipe and went to bed. + +After breakfast next morning he called for Pete and walked carelessly +to the main bridge. He, however, took his pistol and when they reached +the woods Pete cut a heavy stick. Foster did not expect to use force, +but it was better to be prepared. While Pete was trimming his cudgel +they heard the heavy snorting of a locomotive and a plume of smoke +moved across the town. Then they saw through an opening in the trees +the cars roll along the mountain side. The Montreal express had +stopped on its journey east, but Foster was preoccupied and thought +nothing of this. + +The snow was very soft when they plodded up the path among the trees, +but it was not far to the clearing, and Foster stopped at its edge. He +had met nobody, and the woods were silent except for the dying roar of +the train, which came faintly down the valley. There was no smoke, but +Daly would put out his fire when it got light. Crossing the wet snow +noiselessly, he made for the shack and when he reached it beckoned to +Pete. + +"Stay here for about ten minutes, and then if I'm not back, you had +better come in," he said. "If anybody runs out, don't let him pass." + +Pete's nod showed he understood and Foster, moving forward quietly, +stopped again for a moment at the mouth of the adit. Pete had +vanished, but could be trusted to watch the mine as a terrier watches a +rat-hole, and Foster knew that if he were attacked and overcome his +assailant would not escape. A gray sky hung over the black tops of the +firs and the wet snow threw up a curious livid light. It was an +unpleasant raw morning, and Foster felt half daunted. + +The adit was dark; he was embarking on a rash adventure, and wondered +with some misgivings what would happen before he came out again. He +heard nothing, and it was rather curious that he could not smell smoke, +but bracing himself he stooped and crept into the dark hole. + +The floor sloped, following the inclination of the strata, and seemed +to be strewn with fallen stones, but he had put on rubber shoes and +made very little noise. He did not want to warn Daly that his +hiding-place had been discovered, until he was near enough to explain +that he had nothing to do with the police. There would not be much +danger when the fellow knew who he was and that the mine was watched, +but he wanted to get as close as possible before alarming him. Daly, +no doubt, carried a pistol. + +Stopping for a moment, he raised his head incautiously and smothered an +exclamation when he struck it against the roof. He could hear water +dripping somewhere below and the slope felt steep. It was nervous work +creeping down hill in the dark, and there was, perhaps, a risk of his +falling into a pit. When he dislodged a stone that rattled he held his +breath as he listened. He heard nothing, and set his lips as he +overcame an impulse to turn back. If Daly had heard the stone, he was +probably waiting for him with his finger on the trigger. + +For all that, Foster went on, feeling for the rough wall, until he +struck his foot against a big stone and losing his balance staggered +and fell. He made a noise that echoed through the adit and, worse than +all, the pistol shot out of his hand. He felt for but could not find +it, and for a few moments lay still with tingling nerves. Daly must +have heard him and was, no doubt, crouching in the dark, ready to +shoot. He tried again to find the pistol, and then with an effort +pulled himself together. The next move might draw a shot, but he must +risk that and not lie there helpless. Besides, if the fellow missed, +he might grapple with and disarm him, and he sprang to his feet. + +"Daly!" he called in a voice that he meant to be careless but was +rather hoarse. "It's Foster. I want to talk about Featherstone." + +There was no reply. He heard water falling into a pool, but except for +this the mine was strangely silent, and after waiting for a moment he +drew back against the rock. + +"Pete!" he shouted. + +His voice sounded muffled and he wondered whether Pete could hear, but +tried to fix his attention on the dark in front. It was there that +danger might lurk. Then he heard Pete stumbling among the stones, and +presently the man came up, panting with haste. + +"Where's the lamp?" Foster asked. + +He knew he was going to do a dangerous thing if Daly was hiding near, +but something must be risked and he struck a match. It sputtered, +throwing an illusive gleam on the wet rock a yard or two in front, and +then went out. Foster struck another with a hoarse exclamation and +touched the wick of a small, flat, metal lamp, such as Western miners +hook on their hats. Candles are not common in Canadian towns where +water-power makes electric lighting cheap. The lamp gave a dim smoky +light, and when Foster picked up his pistol they waited a few moments, +looking eagerly in front. + +A trickle of water fell from a crack in the roof and running down the +floor of the adit vanished into the gloom. Here and there a ragged +projection caught the light, but the rest of the tunnel was hidden in +impenetrable darkness. They went on cautiously, though Foster now felt +anxious because there was no sign of Daly. After a minute or two, the +light fell on a wall of dry rock with a pool at the bottom, and he knew +they had reached the end of the adit. Next moment he saw there was an +opening to one side where some ore had been taken out. If Daly was in +the mine, he was there, and warning Pete with a sign, he turned the +comer. + +The light showed a small, dry chamber, strewn with sharp stones, some +of which had been put together to make a hearth. Between these lay the +ashes of a fire; bits of food were scattered about, and a blue Hudson's +Bay blanket lay in a corner. Except for this, the chamber was empty. +Foster savagely clenched his fist while Pete stirred the ashes and felt +the blanket. + +"It's dry an' the reek o' a cigar is fresh on it," he said. "Yon +fire's no' been oot lang. I'm thinking it's a pity we didna' come last +night." + +Foster sat down and looked about. He was getting calm, but felt dull +with disappointment. For all that, he saw why the mine had been +abandoned. There was a fault in the strata, where the vein had slipped +down, but the subsidence had cracked the rock above and he imagined +that the fissure reached the surface. The air was fresh and not very +cold; there was water close by, and Foster saw no reason why Daly +should not have found the chamber a comfortable hiding-place. Yet he +had left it. + +"Can you see the basket you talked about?" he asked, giving Pete the +lamp. + +Pete found it behind some stones and they examined it together. + +"Here's the spirit-stove, some bread, and the can of meat," said +Foster. "But I see no biscuits. Can he have eaten them?" + +"There were ower mony. He's ta'en them with him." + +"Well," said Foster thoughtfully, "I don't see why the other fellow +brought him provisions he didn't need." + +"Maybe something happened since he brought the basket," Pete suggested. + +Foster pondered. It was possible that something had happened at the +hotel after Telford's visit that had altered the accomplices' plans, or +made it easier for Daly to get away; but, if this were so, Telford must +have gone back to the mine. He might have done so, but Foster thought +Daly had perhaps not taken his confederate altogether into his +confidence and had changed his plans without warning him. Foster could +not tell what chance the fellow had of stealing away, but as he had +left the basket and only taken some biscuits, it looked as if he did +not expect to go very far on foot. + +"We'll get out and try to find which way he's gone," he said. + +It was a relief to reach the open air, and they carefully studied the +sloppy snow. Foster knew something about tracking elk and moose, and +Pete had a poacher's skill, but the rapid thaw had blurred the +footprints they found. On the whole, however, Pete imagined that +Telford had returned to the mine since his visit on the previous +evening. + +Then they searched about the foot of the rocks and presently found +marks that showed where somebody had climbed. Getting up, they +followed the marks to a beaten trail that ran along the hillside from +the town to a neighboring mine. There was nothing to be learned here +and Foster went back dejectedly to the hotel. Dinner was being served +when he arrived, but he did not see Walters and felt annoyed when +Telford stopped him as he was coming out. + +"I haven't seen you since last night and thought we might have had a +game," he said. "Where have you been all morning?" + +"I didn't come here to play pool," Foster replied. "There was +something I had to see about." + +"Then I hope you found business pretty good," Telford remarked with a +quiet smile that Foster found disturbing. + +He thought the fellow would see him if he went to the clerk's office, +and beckoning the bell-boy into a passage gave him a coin. + +"Do you know if the lame gentleman with the dark hair is out?" he asked, + +"He's certainly out. Left on the Montreal express this morning." + +"You're quite sure of that?" + +"Yep," said the lad. "I put his baggage in the transfer wagon for the +depot." + +Foster went to the rotunda and sat down to smoke. He felt savage, for +there was no doubt that he had muddled things. Daly had again escaped +him, but he thought he saw what Walters' visit meant. Three of the +gang had met to make some plot, which might threaten Lawrence, whom +they no doubt thought dangerous. It was ominous that Walters had gone +east. Daly was obviously afraid of arrest, but the others seemed to +think themselves safe and Telford was stopping at the hotel, although +it looked as if he were being watched. Foster wondered whether the +fellow suspected this. + +Another matter demanded consideration. News of what he had done in +Newcastle had probably reached the gang, and he had a check belonging +to a member of it in his wallet. If they knew this, which was +possible, he might be in some danger, and taking it for granted that +the watcher was a detective or acting for Hulton, it would simplify +things and free him from a grave responsibility if he told what he +knew. For all that, he did not mean to do so. His object was to save +his comrade's name. + +In the afternoon he played pool with Telford, who carelessly asked him +a few clever questions, which Foster answered with a misleading +frankness that he hoped would put the other off the track. In the +evening he read the newspapers and tried to overcome a growing anxiety +about Lawrence. He ought to follow Daly, but did not know where he had +gone, and thought that if he waited Telford might give him a clew. + +There were no letters for him next morning, but soon after breakfast +the bell-boy brought him a telegram and he tore open the envelope. The +message was from Lucy Stephen and read: + +"Mountaineering friend just arrived. Snow dangerous now. Would feel +safer if you could join us. Come if possible." + +For a moment or two Foster sat still, with his face set. Lucy was +guarded, but the mountaineering friend was Walters and she had given +him an urgent hint that he was needed. Then he picked up a railroad +folder that lay near and noting the time of Walters' arrival, saw that +the telegram had been delayed. After this he glanced at his watch and +ran out into the street. + +A trail of black smoke moved across the roofs and he heard the roll of +wheels as the heavy train climbed the incline. He had got Lucy's +warning ten minutes too late, and could not leave until next day. + + + + +XXVIII + +THE LOG BRIDGE + +Lawrence had gone to his room to rest and Lucy Stephen was sitting +alone in the veranda when she heard the roar of an east-bound train +coming up the valley. It stopped, which did not often happen, and she +put down her book and looked out at the opening in the pines that led +to the track. The smoke that rose into the clear, cold air began to +move, and Lucy frowned, because the train had just stopped long enough +for passengers to alight. Although the hotel was generally full in +summer, there were then only a few other guests, quiet people whose +acquaintance she had made, and she did not wish Lawrence to be +disturbed by new arrivals. He was getting better, but not so quickly +as she wished. Besides, she had another ground for anxiety. + +A man came up the road between the pines. It was a relief to see one +man instead of a party, but she went to the glass front and watched him +with keen curiosity. He vanished among the trees where the road curved +and when he came out not far off she set her lips. It was Walters and +her vague fears were realized, but he would not reach the hotel for a +few minutes and this gave her time to brace herself. + +Ringing a bell, she asked for a telegraph form and hurriedly filling it +up, said to the waiting lad, "Take this down to the office." + +The lad wore a smart uniform and was called a page, but he had the +pertness that generally marks the bellboy in Western hotels. + +"Certainly, miss. But I reckon I'll be wanted when the stranger who's +coming up the road gets here. Guess it will be all right if I take +your message when he's fixed." + +Lucy, who scarcely heard, sent the page away. Walters would arrive in +a minute or two, and now she had warned Foster she thought she had +better not avoid him. If she hid her distrust, she might find out +something, and she would sooner he saw her before he met Lawrence. +There was nobody else in the veranda just then. Walters came in with a +smile that somehow intensified her antagonism, but she waited calmly, +although she did not give him her hand. + +"It looks as if you were rather surprised to see me," he remarked. + +"I am," said Lucy. "Perhaps that's not unnatural!" + +He laughed and since she did not suggest his sitting down, remained +standing in a rather graceful pose. She meant to hide her real +feelings if she could, but as she had been angry when he left it was +better that he should think her angry now. A marked change in her +attitude would be illogical and might excite suspicion. + +"I suppose that means you blame me for Lawrence's illness and haven't +forgiven me yet?" he suggested. + +"I do blame you. You let the guide get drunk and left Lawrence on the +_couloir_. Then you were a long time coming back, when you knew the +danger he was in." + +"Well," said Walters in an apologetic tone, "I suppose all this is +true, but I must point out that when we slipped down the gully it was +impossible to get up again. Then there were some big crevasses in the +glacier and I had a half-drunk man to help across; I really didn't know +he would drink too much when I gave him the flask. However, although +perhaps I was rather careless, I hope you won't forbid my seeing +Lawrence." + +"I couldn't forbid your seeing him, as you must know." + +"You couldn't, in a sense," Walters agreed. "Still, of course, your +wishes go a long way with him, and I imagine he is what one might call +amenable." + +"I don't understand that." + +Walters smiled. "I always found Lawrence good-humored and it would +surprise me if he did anything you didn't like. I don't know that I +can go farther without venturing on an open compliment. But I'm +anxious to know how he is." + +"He is getting better, but must be kept quiet for some time. But why +did you come here?" + +"It ought to be obvious," Walters replied in a tone of mild protest. +"You blame me for my friend's illness, and though I don't know what I +left undone, I am, in a sense, responsible; anyway, I was with him. +Well, I found I had to go east, and determined to put off my business +for a day or two so I could stop over and see how he is getting on." + +"You may see him. But you must remember that he isn't strong and needs +quietness." + +"I'll be very careful," Walters said with a grateful look. "May I take +it that your consent is a sign that you'll try to forgive me for my +share in the accident?" + +Lucy forced a smile. "We'll see how you keep your promise." + +She sat down, feeling rather limp, when he left her. He had, on the +surface, taken a very proper line, and his excuse for coming was +plausible, but she knew that it was false. The man had meant to leave +her lover to freeze among the rocks and was horribly clever. It was +hard to preserve her calm when she hated and feared him, and although +she thought she had not acted badly, the interview had been trying. +Besides, Lawrence was generous and not very discriminating. Walters +might find a way of disarming the suspicions Foster had roused. + +When the page showed Walters to his room, he said to the lad, "I want +somebody to go to the station for my bag. Have they a telegraph +office?" + +"Yep; I'm going down to send a wire. Office isn't open long. Agent +quits as soon as the east-bound freight comes through." + +"I suppose the wire's from Miss Stephen?" + +The page nodded and Walters gave him twenty-five cents. "Well, if you +can wait a little, I'll have a message to send; it will save you a +journey." + +The boy hesitated; but the money banished his doubts. "All right; +you'd better get it written. The freight's nearly due." + +Walters went to Lawrence's room before he wrote the telegram, and met +Lucy again at dinner. There were only two tables in use in the large +dining-room, and the waiter sent him to Mrs. Stephen's. Lucy wondered +whether Walters had arranged this with the man beforehand, but it gave +her an opportunity of watching him and she did not object. She +admitted that he had nerve and tact, for although she feared him and +her mother shared her distrust, he was able to banish the constraint +both felt and amuse the party. Lucy could not tell what Lawrence +thought, but he laughed at the other's stories and now and then +bantered him. + +After dinner Walters left them and when they went; to Mrs. Stephen's +sitting-room Lucy remarked rather sharply: "You seemed to find Walters +amusing!" + +"He is amusing," Lawrence answered. "In fact, the fellow puzzles me." + +"You mean he couldn't talk in that good-humored, witty way if he had +plotted to leave you on the _couloir_?" + +"Well," said Lawrence, "I suppose I did feel something of the kind." + +"I don't know that it's very logical," Lucy rejoined, hiding her alarm. +"You agreed with Foster's conclusions when he was here." + +"I did, to some extent. The way Jake argued out the matter made things +look pretty bad." + +"But they look better now? Walters was talking to you in your room?" + +"He didn't say much about our climb; just a word or two of regret for +his carelessness in not seeing what had happened to the guide." + +"Words that were very carefully chosen, no doubt!" + +"Well," said Lawrence, "I'm frankly puzzled; the more I think about our +adventure, the harder it is to decide how much one could hold Walters +accountable for. It _was_ difficult to throw me up the rope without +slipping, and there was only a small, projecting rock, on which he +might have broken his bones, to prevent his tobogganing to the bottom. +If he had slid past it, he would have been killed." + +"Walters wouldn't hesitate about a risk. It might have looked like an +accident if you hadn't heard Foster's story." + +Lawrence knitted his brows, rather impatiently. "After all, Jake's a +romantic fellow, and his explanation's theatrical." + +"You don't like theatrical things," Mrs. Stephen interposed. "You must +admit that they happen, but you feel it's ridiculous that they should +happen to you." + +"I imagine I do feel that," Lawrence agreed with a smile. "When they +happen to somebody else they're not so unnatural." + +Lucy tried to preserve her self-control, but her tone was sharp as she +said, "Then you feel inclined to forgive Walters the pain and illness +he caused you." + +"It would be harder to forgive him your anxiety," Lawrence rejoined, +and his face set hard. "In fact, if I knew he really had plotted the +thing------" He paused and resumed: "One would be justified in killing +a brute who could do what you imagine, but there's a difference between +hating a crime and punishing the man accused of it before you have +proved his guilt. In the meantime, I'm trying to keep an open mind." + +"But you will be careful and not trust him far," Lucy urged. + +"I'll run no risks; I've some ground for being cautious." + +Lucy said no more. Lawrence was not well yet and sometimes got +obstinate if one argued with him. She thought he would be prudent, but +it was comforting to remember that she had telegraphed for his comrade. +Unfortunately, she did not know that her message was then in the page's +pocket. He had waited some time for Walters' telegram, and when he +reached the station found the agent gone. In consequence, fearing a +reprimand, he resolved to send the messages in the morning and say +nothing about the matter. + +The next day was clear and calm, with bright sunshine on the snow, and +Mrs. Stephen agreed when Lawrence insisted on going for a short walk +with her and some of the guests. Walters joined the party, although +Lucy tried to leave him behind, and they leisurely climbed a winding +path among the pines. The snow was thin and crisp beneath the trees, +the air exhilarating, and through openings they caught glimpses of +fissured glaciers, rocks that glistened in the steely light, and +majestic glittering peaks. The pines were straight and tall, and the +great soft-colored trunks rose in long climbing ranks against the blue +shadow on the snow. + +They stopped for a few minutes at the foot of a crag, and then +Lawrence, who had been sitting rather slackly on a log, got up with a +shiver. + +"The air's keen," he said. "Can't we go back another way where we'll +get the sun?" + +One of the party said there was a lower and more open trail, and they +went down until they reached a narrow track that followed the edge of a +steep fall to the river. The hillside above made a sharp angle with +the pines that cut, in scattered cones of somber green, against the +long, glittering slope. Below, the ground dropped nearly sheer to the +green flood that roared among the ice. Although the trail was safe +enough, Lucy kept close to Lawrence and was glad to see Walters talking +to one of the others some distance behind. She felt jaded, for she had +not relaxed her watchfulness since the man arrived. By and by Lawrence +gave her a grateful smile. + +"You look tired; I expect I'm something of a responsibility. If you +like, I'll make an excuse for stopping in until Walters goes." + +"No," she said with an effort, "that would be cowardly and not good for +you. After all, I may be giving my imagination rein; but I wish he +hadn't come." + +"He won't be here long. Anyhow, we'll keep out of his way as much as +we can for the rest of the time." + +"That's a relief. Still, I expect you really think you are indulging +me." + +"I don't know what to think," Lawrence replied. "You're clever, and +Jake, who takes your view, is not a fool. But it doesn't look as if +Walters meant to do me much harm." + +"He can't, so long as you don't give him an opportunity." + +Lawrence's eyes twinkled. "And you'll take care that I don't? Well, +it's rather nice to be protected." + +Lucy blushed. "If you would take things seriously sometimes----" + +"If I did, you'd find me dull. Now I like you exactly as you are, +except that, in one way, I'd sooner you were not so anxious about me. +That's partly why I'm not so serious as you expect I'm afraid you'd get +worse if I played up to you." + +"Never mind me," said Lucy. "Only take care!" + +By and by the slope grew gentler, and tall forest crept up the hill +when they came to a ravine a torrent had worn out of the mountain side. +The ravine was narrow and for a short distance below the top the banks +shelved steeply; then a wall of rock fell straight to the water that +brawled in the bottom of the deep gap. The light was dim down there, +but one could see livid flashes of foam through a haze of spray. The +trail had been made by lumbermen or prospectors, who had provided a +bridge by chopping a big fir so that it fell across the chasm. +Somebody had made the passage easier by roughly squaring its upper +surface, though it is seldom a Canadian bushman takes this precaution +with his primitive bridge. There was no reason anybody with normal +nerve should hesitate to cross, but the party stopped. + +"You have gone farther than usual to-day, Featherstone, and perhaps +you'd sooner cut out the bridge," said one. "I think we could get +round the head of the canon without lengthening the distance much." + +Lawrence smiled. "My object is to keep on going farther than I did +before, and I don't see why the log should bother me. It's my legs +that are weak--not my head." + +"Very well," said the other. "I'll go first and Miss Chisholm will +come next." + +"Am I to be encouraged or shamed into crossing?" Lawrence asked with a +laugh. + +He let them go, and Lucy did not object. Lawrence was not well yet, +but she had seen him climb among the crevasses and knew his steadiness. +Then, although she did not know how much this counted, she was proud of +his courage and forgot that physical weakness sometimes affects one's +nerve. Walters could not harm him, because he was not near enough. + +When the first two had gone over, Lawrence walked out upon the log. +Lucy was not afraid, but she watched and remarked that he seemed +unusually careful. After a few paces, he moved slowly, and when near +the middle stopped. She saw him clench his hands as he tried to brace +himself. + +"Go on, Lawrence," she said, as quietly as she could. + +He moved another pace or two uncertainly, and then stopped again, and +Lucy struggled with her terror as she tried to think. If he were well, +it would not be difficult to turn and come back, or sit upon the log, +but either would be dangerous if his nerve had gone. She had failed to +rouse him and durst not try again. If he slipped or stumbled, he would +plunge into the canon. It was horrible to reflect that she had allowed +him to make the venture. Then, throwing off the numbing fear, she +sprang to her feet. + +"Stand quite still; I'm coming to help you," she said in a strained +voice and went towards the log. + +Next moment she was seized from behind, and Walters ran past. She +struggled fiercely, biting her lips as she stopped the scream that +might startle her lover, and heard the man who held her breathing hard. +But he held her firmly and she stopped struggling, with a paralyzing +horror that made her muscles limp. Still, she could see and think, and +the scene fixed itself upon her brain like a photograph; long +afterwards she could remember each minute detail. + +The log occupied the foreground of the picture, running boldly across +the gap in the pines, with a shadowy gulf beneath. Near the middle, +Lawrence stood slackly, with his back to her, and behind him Walters +walked across the trunk. His step was firm and agile, his figure +well-proportioned and athletic, and it was somehow obvious that he +relished the opportunity of showing his powers. Afterwards, she hated +him for his vanity. + +It was plain that little physical help could be given. All that was +possible was moral support; a firm, guiding grasp that would restore +the shaken man's confidence, and the comfort of feeling there was +somebody near who was not afraid. But a very slight push the wrong +way, or even an unsteadiness in the hand that should have guided, might +be fatal. Lawrence was at the mercy of a man who had plotted to +destroy him and could do so now without risk. Lucy could not warn him, +because if he were startled, he would fall. Waiting in an agony of +suspense, she saw Walters grasp his shoulder. + +"Steady, partner; we'll soon be across," he said in a quiet, reassuring +voice, and Lawrence's slack pose stiffened, as if he had gathered +confidence. + +Lucy thought he did not know who had spoken, but the horrible tension +did not slacken yet, though Lawrence began to move forward. Walters +came close behind, rather guiding than supporting him, and in a few +moments they stepped down on the other side. Then Lucy gasped and logs +and pines got blurred and indistinct. She conquered the faintness and +went resolutely towards the log. + +"Wait and let me help you," somebody said. + +"No," she answered in a strained voice; "I'm quite steady." + +She crossed the log without a tremor and running to where Lawrence sat +put her arm round him. Lawrence said nothing, but took and held her +hand. + + + + +XXIX + +FOSTER ARRIVES + +When Lucy looked up, the others had gathered round and Walters smiled +sympathetically. + +"Are you better?" he asked Lawrence. + +"Yes; we'll go on in a minute. I don't know what was the matter; felt +dizzy and couldn't keep my balance. Think I needed a rest." + +"The thing's obvious," Walters agreed. "After seeing you on the +glaciers, I reckon your nerve's all right, but you're not well yet and +we brought you up the last hill too fast. The exertion disturbed the +beating of your heart and a few drops too much blood sent to the brain +makes a big difference. That's what happened; it's our fault." + +Lucy was grateful for the explanation, and thought it correct, but she +noted with some concern that Lawrence did not show the embarrassment +she had expected, which indicated that he had not recovered yet. In +the meantime, Walters gave her a look of ironical amusement. She could +not resent this and it seemed ridiculous to doubt him, but she did. + +"Thank you; you were very quick and cool," she said with an effort. + +Walters tactfully bowed his acknowledgment, as if he did not want to +press his claim on her gratitude, and Lucy turned to one of the others. + +"Was it you who held me back?" she asked, and when the man nodded, +resumed: "Of course, you were right. I might have startled him and we +would both have fallen." + +"That's what I was afraid of. Anyhow, Mr. Walters deserves your thanks +most. He saw what was needed and did it smartly." + +Then Lawrence got up, with some color in his face, and gave Walters his +hand. "I expect I would have fallen if you hadn't come along," he said +and turned to the rest. "I feel I must apologize for frightening you. +My best excuse is that I wasn't as fit as I thought." + +They urged him to rest and one offered to run to the hotel for brandy, +but he declared he was able to go on, and they tactfully began to talk +about something else and after a few minutes let him drop behind. He +was grateful and went slowly, with his hand on Lucy's arm. Sometimes +he pressed it gently and she gave him a tender look, but said nothing. +She could not talk; her relief was too great. When they reached the +hotel Lawrence went to his room, and soon afterwards Lucy met Walters +on the veranda. + +"I hope Lawrence is not much the worse," he said. + +Lucy remembered the part she had taken and resolved to play it out. + +"I expect he will be as well as usual after a rest. You took a very +generous revenge." + +Walters laughed. "After all, I was only a little quicker than the rest +and really ran no risk. I was behind him and he couldn't get hold of +me. In fact, I don't know that I'd have had grit enough to stick to +him if he had slipped." + +He left her and Lucy could find no fault with his reply, which she +admitted was frank and modest. For all that, her distrust had not been +banished, and when, after a time, Lawrence came down, she said, "I +suppose you're now satisfied that it wasn't Walters' fault you were +left on the _couloir_?" + +"Aren't you?" Lawrence asked with some surprise. + +"No," said Lucy firmly. "I'm not quite satisfied. You see, there were +a number of accidents, all leading to one result. Coincidences of that +kind don't happen unless somebody arranges them." + +Lawrence laughed. "Then they're not coincidences. Do you still hold +Walters accountable for the accidents?" + +"If he was accountable, they wouldn't be accidents," Lucy rejoined with +some color in her face. + +"A fair retort! But let's be serious. I'm not sure I'd have fallen +off the log if I'd been left alone, but it's very possible. Walters' +help was useful, whether he saved my life or not, and you can't deny +that he meant to save it." + +"No; I think he meant to save you. Did you know who it was when he +touched you?" + +"I did. Remembering Jake's theory, I saw it was possible he had come +to push me off, but I knew he hadn't. That's why I gave him my hand +afterwards." + +"Ah!" said Lucy. "I was sorry when you did that, because I knew what +it meant" + +Lawrence looked at her deprecatingly. "I don't like you to be +prejudiced, dear, even on my account. I can do nothing that might +injure Walters now and can't treat him with suspicion; but he's going +soon and, if it's any comfort, I won't leave the hotel grounds for the +next day or two. Anyhow I've rather overdone things lately." + +"Thank you for the promise," Lucy said, and was glad when her mother +joined them, for she felt baffled and wanted to think. + +She hated Walters with a half-instinctive hatred that reflection showed +her was justified; but beyond the concession he had made Lawrence would +not be moved. On the surface, so to speak, he was logical and she was +not. She was sure Walters had plotted to leave him on the couloir, +although she admitted that he had meant to save his life when he turned +dizzy upon the trunk. It was possible that he had yielded to sudden +generous emotion, but she did not accept the explanation. The fellow +was cold-blooded and calculating; she thought he had deliberately let +his opportunity pass, because, after this, nobody would believe him +guilty if he found another. But he must not find an opportunity, and +it was a keen relief to know that Foster would soon arrive. She had +not told Lawrence yet; it might be better to let Foster make an excuse +for his visit. + +When it began to get dark, she stood near the glass front of the +veranda and glanced at her watch. She could see for some distance down +the valley and knew that the smoke of a locomotive would spread in a +dark cloud across the tops of the pines. The train was late, but there +was no smoke yet. It was a long climb from sea-level at Vancouver +Inlet and in winter the line was sometimes blocked. There was no +obvious ground for alarm, but somehow she was worse afraid of Walters +than before. + +The massed pines gradually faded to a formless blur on the cold +blue-gray slopes of snow. There was no sound from the valley by the +roar of the river, and by and by a servant turned on the lamps. Lucy +could now see nothing outside and shivered as she looked at her watch. +She hoped no accident had delayed the tram. + +In the meantime, Lawrence, who was sitting near her mother, had picked +up a book, but put it down when Walters came in, and Lucy felt a +curious tremor of repugnance as she glanced at him. It was a shrinking +she sometimes experienced at the sight of a noxious insect. Yet there +was nothing about Walters to excite aversion. He was rather a handsome +man, and stood in a careless pose, smiling at the group. + +"The trouble about a pleasant time is that it comes to an end, and I'll +have to pull out to-morrow," he said. "When are you going to give me +the photographs you promised, Lawrence?" + +"I'll get them now and you can choose which you like. They're in my +room." + +"I want one with Miss Stephen in it as well as yourself," Walters +replied. "It will be something to remind me of our climbs." + +"Send the boy for the packet," Lucy interposed. + +"I think the drawer's locked; anyhow I don't want the boy to upset my +things," Lawrence objected. + +"Then I'll go with you," said Walters. "It will save you taking the +packet back and you can get ready for dinner while you are upstairs." + +Lawrence got up. "Very well; we'll go now." + +"Take the elevator, even if you have to wait," Lucy said as they went +to the door. + +Lawrence had chosen a room at the top of the building because the view +was good and it got the sun early in the morning, but now and then +walked up the stairs to see how fast he was recovering his strength. +After a minute or two, Lucy heard the elevator start and its harsh +rumble jarred her nerves. The electric lifts they use in Canada seldom +run silently, and the elevator had not been working well. Lucy was +annoyed that the sound disturbed her, and imagined she had not +recovered from the shock she got during their walk. She was nervous +and admitted that she did not like Lawrence to be out of her sight when +Walters was with him. She tried to persuade herself that this was +foolish, but could not banish her uneasiness. Then Mrs. Stephen looked +up. + +"There's the train; I didn't hear it stop." + +Lucy listened. She had forgotten the train for the last few minutes, +and it seemed to be going fast. The sharp snorting of the mountain +engine and rhythmic clang of wheels seemed to indicate that its long +climb had not been interrupted. The Montreal express did not stop at +the flag station unless the conductor was warned. She felt daunted as +she realized that Foster might not have come, and she had not told her +mother she had telegraphed for him. + +A few minutes later she heard steps outside; then the door opened, and +she felt a thrill of satisfaction as Foster came in with Pete. He +looked grave and rather hot, as if he had been walking fast, but it was +strangely comforting to see him. Besides, she liked his big companion, +who waited with Scottish calm. + +Foster bowed to Mrs. Stephen and then turned to Lucy. + +"Is Lawrence all right?" + +"Yes. He overtired himself this morning, but is better now." + +Foster looked relieved. "Is Walters here?" + +"He goes to-morrow." + +"Ah!" said Foster, as if he thought this important. "I should have +arrived yesterday if your message had come earlier. I got it just +after the train started in the morning." + +Mrs. Stephen looked at her daughter, but Lucy offered no explanation. +Foster's abruptness disturbed her. He obviously wanted to understand +the situation, but seemed to think he had no time to lose. + +"I sent the telegram half an hour before the office closed and as the +agent goes early you ought to have got it in the evening," she said. + +"Then it must have been kept back. Where's Lawrence now?" + +"He went to his room with Walters about ten minutes since." + +Foster beckoned Pete. "Then I'll go straight up; I know the number." + +They went out and Lucy sat down, feeling disturbed but somewhat +comforted. It was plain that Foster shared her fears and knew more +than she did, but in another minute or two he would join his comrade, +and Lawrence would be safe when he was there. + +In the meantime, Walters lighted a cigarette Lawrence gave him in his +room and sat down to examine the photographs. There were a number of +views of the mountains and a group of figures occupied the foreground +of several. A guest at the hotel with some talent for photography had +taken the pictures, and after a time Walters picked out two in which +Lucy and Lawrence appeared. + +"I'll take these, if I'm not robbing you," he said and waited until +Lawrence put on a Tuxedo jacket, when he resumed: "Well, I suppose we +had better go down. Are you coming?" + +He went out and as Lawrence crossed the floor to turn off the light, +called back: "I forgot the pictures; they're on the bureau. The +elevator's coming up and I'll keep it when it's here." + +Lawrence told him to do so. The lift had stopped between the floors on +their ascent, and the electric light inside it had gone out, while the +boy said something about his not being able to run it much longer. The +photographs, however, were not on the bureau and Lawrence searched the +room before he found them on the bed. Then he turned off the light and +went into the passage, which was rather dark. The lamp at the shaft +was not burning, but he could see Walters beckoning at the gate. + +"He wants to get down before the motor stops," the latter said. + +Lawrence hurried along the passage, and when he reached the shaft +Walters put his hand on the folding ironwork. + +"Come along; his light's out," he said to Lawrence, and added, as if to +somebody in the lift: "Start her off! I'll shut the gate." + +Lawrence stepped forward and then clutched the ironwork as his advanced +foot went down into empty space. Instead of the floor of the lift, +there was a dark gap beneath him, and he knew he had come very near to +plunging down the shaft. He hung over it, with one foot on the edge +and his hand on an iron bar, and looked at the black hole with horror +as he braced himself for the effort to swing his body back. There was +some strain upon his right arm, because his right knee was bent and his +other leg dangled over the shaft. His hold on the ironwork had saved +him and he must use it to regain the passage. + +Next moment a hand fastened on his wrist and he thought Walters had +come to his help. But the fellow was stupid; he ought to have seized +his shoulder. Then the sweat ran down his face as he guessed the +truth. Walters had not come to help; he meant to throw him down the +shaft. + +He set his teeth and felt the veins on his forehead swell with the +effort he made. He was in horrible danger and must fight for his life. +Walters was trying to pull his hand off the bar, but he resolved that +if the fellow succeeded, he should go down the shaft with him. But +although his situation was desperate, he did not mean to fall. + +Then Walters' fingers slipped away, and something jarred Lawrence's +knuckles as he got a firmer hold. The brute had struck him with a +pistol butt and the pain was sharp, but he did not let go. Though his +muscles were badly strained and his brain struggled with numbing +horror, he could think. Walters could have made him loose his grasp +had he used his knife, but the thing must look like an accident and +there must be no cut to show. The fellow had set a cunning trap for +him, but he might escape yet. + +Then he thought he heard steps, but his hearing was dull, for there was +a sound like bells in his ears and the hand fastened on his wrist +again. He arched his back to ease the strain on his arm and wondered +vaguely how long he could hold on. Afterwards, he calculated that he +had hung over the shaft for about a minute. + +Suddenly his antagonist's grasp slackened and his hand was loose. +There were running steps; somebody seized his arm and pulled him +strongly back. As he staggered across the passage he heard a heavy +blow. Walters, reeling past, struck the wall and leaned against it +with blood on his white face. He put his hand into his pocket, but a +man sprang forward and grappled with him. + +They lurched away from the wall and fell down the stairs. Another man +ran down after them, and Lawrence, who felt very limp, followed +awkwardly. There were lights on the next landing and he saw the +struggling men strike the banisters and stop. One had his hand loose +and held a pistol; his tense, savage face was uppermost. The man who +had gone down after them stooped and struck him with his fist. The +struggle stopped, and Lawrence sat down on the steps and tried to pull +himself together. He knew now how his illness had weakened him. + +Then Foster came up the stairs, very hot and breathless, with his +jacket torn, and stopping beside Lawrence, forced a smile. + +"It's lucky I got here when I did," he said. "The brute yonder stopped +me coming yesterday." + +Foster did not remember his reply, but he got up and went down to where +Walters lay unconscious. As he reached the spot the hotel manager and +a waiter arrived. + +"What's the matter? Is he dead?" the manager asked. + +"I don't know," said Foster coolly. "It will save the police some +trouble if he is." + +"But I want to know what's happened," + +Foster indicated a pistol lying on the steps. "That's his; he tried to +use it. I'll tell you about the thing later. In the meantime, you can +take him to his room and telegraph for the police." He paused and +beckoned Pete. "Go with them and don't lose sight of him until I come. +He'll probably come round soon." + +"Weel," said Pete dryly, "I'm thinking he'll no' be verra sensible for +a while yet, but I'll see he doesna' get away." + +He and the waiter picked up Walters, and Foster turned to Lawrence. + +"Now I'd better wash and straighten myself up. Perhaps you can lend me +a jacket." + +Lawrence laughed, a rather strained laugh. "Certainly; come along. +You're a curious combination, partner. I've called you romantic, but +you're not a sentimentalist when you get into action." + + + + +XXX + +RUN DOWN + +Foster did not know what Lawrence told Lucy, because he was occupied +for some time in his room. His lip was cut, his face was bruised, and +there was a lump on his head where he had struck the steps. After he +had attended to the injuries and frowned at his reflection in the +glass, he rang the bell, and asking for some paper took out his +fountain pen. It was not easy to write, but there was something to be +done that had better not be put off. He knew now what the gang was +capable of, and meant to leave a record, in case an accident of the +kind to which his comrade had nearly fallen a victim happened to him. +Moreover, it might be a safeguard to let his antagonists know that they +could not destroy his evidence if they took his life. + +He related his adventures in Scotland, his pursuit of Daly, and his +surmises about the gang, and then going down, asked the hotel clerk to +witness his signature and put the document in the safe. After this, he +went to the veranda, where Lucy came to meet him with shining eyes. + +"Jake," she said with emotion, "I felt we would be safe as soon as you +arrived. If you knew how I listened for the train and longed for your +step! But the wretch has hurt you; your face is bruised and cut." +Foster felt embarrassed, but laughed. "My face will soon recover its +usual charm, and if it's any comfort, the other fellow looks, and no +doubt feels, much worse." Then he turned to Lawrence, who sat near. +"You have evidently been telling Miss Stephen a highly-colored tale." + +"Lucy!" she corrected him. "I'm not going to call you Mr. Foster. +You're our friend--mother's and mine---as well as Lawrence's." She +stopped and shuddered. "But you shall not make a joke of what you did! +What might have happened won't bear thinking of. If you hadn't come in +time!" + +Foster, seeing her emotion, glanced at Mrs. Stephen, begging her to +interfere, but her strained look indicated that her feelings harmonized +with the girl's. Then Lawrence interposed with a grin-- + +"Jake always does come in time--that's one of his virtues. He's the +kind of man who's there when he's wanted. I don't know how he does it, +because he's not really clever." + +"Lawrence," said Lucy severely, "sometimes you're not as humorous as +you think." + +"Then I hope I'm tactful, because you're making poor Jake feel horribly +awkward. I believe he thought you wanted to kiss him and was very +nearly running away." + +Lucy blushed and Lawrence resumed: "He can't deny it; Jake, you know +you would have run away! However, I knew what I was doing when I made +him my partner some time ago. Jake has a romantic imagination that now +and then leads him into trouble, but although it's perhaps as much luck +as genius, when he undertakes a thing he puts it over. For example, +there was the sawmill----" + +Lucy stopped him with a gesture. "We are not going to talk about the +sawmill. It was your--I mean our--troubles Jake plunged into, and +pluck that can't be daunted is better than genius. But you're an +English Borderer and therefore half a Scot; you hate to let people +guess your feelings." + +"Jake kens," said Lawrence, smiling. "Before very long you'll be a +Borderer, too." + +Lucy's eyes were very soft as she turned to Foster. "Then I must adopt +their customs. I think they have a motto, 'Dinna' forget.'" + +To Foster's relief, the hotel manager came in and looked at the two +ladies hesitatingly. Neither took the hint and Lucy said, rather +sharply, "Well?" + +"Mr. Walters has come round and demands to be let out of his room. +Your man's there, Mr. Foster, and won't let him move." + +"Pete's splendid!" said Lucy. "I haven't thanked him yet. Perhaps you +had better go, Lawrence, but take Jake." + +Foster beckoned the manager and when they were outside asked: "When do +you expect the police?" + +"Some time to-morrow." + +"Then we must watch the fellow closely until they come." + +They stopped at a room on the second floor, and the manager frowned +when he turned the handle of the door, which would not open. + +"Wha's there the noo?" a sharp voice demanded. + +Foster laughed as he answered, the door was opened, and they saw +Walters, who looked much the worse for the struggle, lying on a couch, +while Pete stood grimly on guard. Walters glanced at Foster. + +"You're something of a surprise," he said. "We didn't expect much from +you." + +"That's a mistake other people have made and regretted," Lawrence +remarked. + +"Well," said Walters, "I demand to be let out." + +Foster shook his head. "I think not. The room is comfortable, and you +won't be here long." + +"What are you going to do with me?" + +"Hand you to the police." + +"On what ground?" + +"Attempted murder, to begin with," said Foster dryly. + +Walters turned to the manager. "A man can't be arrested without a +warrant. I guess you understand you're making trouble for yourself by +permitting these fellows to lock me in." + +"I don't know if it's quite legal or not," Foster admitted, addressing +the manager, who looked irresolute. "Anyhow, you're not responsible, +because we're going to take the matter out of your hands. Besides, you +haven't much of a staff just now and couldn't interfere." + +"In a way, that's so," the manager doubtfully agreed. "I don't want a +disturbance in my hotel; I've had enough." + +"Very well," said Walters, seeing he could expect no help from him. +"But I'm not going to have this wooden-faced Scotchman in my room. The +fool won't let me move. If you don't take him away, I'll break the +furniture. I can do that, although I'm not able to throw the big brute +out." + +Foster walked to the window, which he opened. It was some distance +from the ground and there was nothing that would be a help in climbing +down. Besides, Walters did not look capable of trying to escape. + +"We'll take him away," he said, and beckoning Pete and the manager, +went out. He locked the door on the other side and resumed: "Send up a +comfortable chair, a blanket, and a packet of tobacco. If there's any +trouble, you can state that you acted on compulsion and we'll support +you, but I rather think you can seize and hold a criminal when you +catch him in the act. Stop here until I relieve you, Pete." + +Pete nodded and the others went to the dining-room. After dinner, +Foster took his turn on watch, but by and by Pete reappeared, holding +the page by the arm. He signed to Foster, who went down the passage to +meet him. + +"I thought I'd maybe better tak' a look roon the back o' the hoose and +found the laddie aneath the window. He had a bit paper in his hand." + +Foster told him to watch Walters' door, and frowned at the lad. + +"I reckon you'd sooner keep out of jail." + +"Sure," said the lad, with an effort at carelessness; "I'm not going to +get in." + +"Well," said Foster grimly, "you're taking steep chances just now. The +police will be here to-morrow and there'll be trouble if they know you +tried to help their prisoner escape. Where's the telegram he threw you +down?" + +"It wasn't a telegram." + +"A letter's just as bad. The wisest thing you can do is to give it me." + +The lad hesitated, but let him have the crumpled envelope. "I was to +give it one of the train hands when the next freight stops for water." + +Foster opened the envelope, which was addressed to Telford at the +mining town. The letter was written guardedly, but after studying it +with knitted brows he thought he understood its purport. + +"How much were you to get for sending this?" he asked. + +"Mr. Walters threw me three dollars. I allow I'd have to give +something to the brakesman." + +"After all, I don't see why you shouldn't deliver the thing," Foster +said thoughtfully. "That means you can keep the money, but as the +brakesman's not allowed to carry letters, he'll probably want a dollar. +Wait until I get a new envelope." + +The boy went off, looking relieved, and Foster returned to his chair at +Walters' door. On the whole, he thought he would hear something of the +gang on the morrow, and if his suspicions were correct, looked forward +to an interesting meeting. Telford had been asked for help, which he +would try to send. The west-bound freight had not passed yet, and if +it came soon, should reach the mining town early in the morning. +Foster lighted his pipe, wrapped the blanket round his legs, and opened +a book he had brought. + +Next day two policemen arrived in a light wagon and took Walters away. +Lawrence was compelled to go with them, and although but little +disturbance was made, Foster imagined all the occupants of the hotel +knew about the matter. He had ground for regretting this, and kept a +close watch on the page whose duties were light just then, which +enabled him to wander about the building and see what was going on. He +expected to hear something when the train from the coast arrived, but +took care to be about when the express from Montreal was due. He had a +suspicion that Daly had gone up the line. + +The west-bound train came first, and Foster, who had sent Pete to the +station, sat in the veranda, where he could see anybody who entered the +hotel. The train stopped and went on again, but nobody came up the +road, and after a time Pete returned. Three passengers had got down, +but they looked like bush ranchers and had taken the trail to a +settlement some distance off. Pete, however, did not know Daly, and +Foster was not satisfied. He thought the fellow might have bought a +cheap skin coat such as the bush ranchers wore. Going out, he walked +through the wood that grew close up to the back of the building. After +all, Daly might try to find out something from one of the servants +before coming to the front entrance. + +The sun had sunk behind the range and the light was dim among the +pines. The air was keen and a bitter wind that came down the valley in +gusts rustled the masses of heavy needles, while the roar of the river +throbbed among the stately trunks. This was in Foster's favor, because +he had to make his way between fallen branches and through thick +undergrowth, and wanted to do so without being heard. He was a good +hunter and bushman, and did not think there was much risk of his being +seen. + +For a time he heard nothing suspicious and began to feel keen +disappointment. He had hoped that Walters' message would bring Daly to +his rescue, but it looked as if it had not done so. Then, as he stood +nearly breast-high among dry brush and withered fern, he heard a faint +noise. Not far off, a narrow trail led through the trees to the back +of the hotel. Standing quite still, he searched the wood with narrowed +eyes. + +It was shadowy all around him, but where the trees grew farther apart +their tall straight trunks cut against the glimmer of the snow. The +noise had stopped, but he could see anybody who crossed the nearest +opening, and waited, tense and highly-strung. Then he heard steps +coming from the hotel, and an indistinct object emerged from the gloom. +It was a man, taking some care to move quietly. When he got nearer, +Foster, knowing there was dark brush behind him, thrust his arm into +the fern and made it rustle as a gust of wind swept the wood. + +The man, who wore an old skin coat, stopped and looked round, and +Foster saw his face. It was Daly, and he seemed uncertain if the wind +had made the noise or not. After standing motionless for a few +moments, he took out his watch, and then moved on again as softly as he +could. + +The meaning of this was plain. Daly had learned that Walters had been +taken away by the police and had concluded that Lawrence meant to +fight. As it was too late to interfere, he meant to make his escape. +Foster resolved to prevent this if he could, but Daly had the advantage +of an open trail, while he was entangled in the brush. He crept out +and pushed through the wood as fast and silently as possible, but when +looking for a way round a thicket caught his foot and fell among some +rotten branches with a crash. He got up, growling at the accident, for +there was no use in following the other after this, although he did not +feel beaten yet. Daly no doubt hoped to get away by the Montreal +express, but would hide in the bush until the last moment. + +Foster went back to the hotel for Pete, and leaving a note for +Lawrence, dressed for a journey and took the road to the station. On +reaching a bend, however, he plunged into the wood and made his way to +the line, beside which he and Pete crept in the gloom of the trees, and +only came into the open for a few yards near the agent's shack. Here +they sat down behind a big water tank and Foster felt satisfied. If +they had reached the station without being noticed, they would find +Daly when he got on board the train, and if he had seen them, they had +cut off his best chance of escape. + +It was nearly dark and very cold, but Foster was glad the train was +late. By and by he got up and lighted his pipe, though he was careful +how he held the match. If Daly was hiding near, he did not want the +fellow to see his face, but the latter would not expect anybody who +might be on his track to smoke. Strolling carelessly round to the +front of the shack, Foster opened the door and asked the agent: "Are +you going to stop the east-bound?" + +"I am," said the other. "Got a wire to hold her up." + +"Ah," said Foster. "I expect we can get tickets on board, but if you +don't mind, we'll wait in here. It's freezing pretty fierce." + +He imagined that Telford or another of the gang had sent the telegram, +and sat down when Pete came in. He heard the wind among the pines and +the humming of the telegraph wires, but for a time this was all. Then +a faint throbbing came up the valley and got louder until he could +distinguish the snorting of a locomotive. + +The snorting stopped, a bell began to toll, and with lights flashing +the cars rolled past the shack. Foster waited a moment or two, +standing at the window, and then as the conductor called "All aboard" +saw a man run along the line and jump on to the step of the end car. +Then, beckoning Pete, he dashed out and got on board as the train began +to move. + +It was with a thrill of triumph he sat down in a corner as the cars +gathered speed. They would not stop for some time and the game was in +his hands at last. The long chase was ended; he had run Daly down. + + + + +XXXI + +DALY SOLVES THE PUZZLE + +The train was speeding along the hillside when Foster took Pete with +him and walked through the rocking cars. As he crossed the platforms +between them he met an icy wind and saw the dark pines stream by. It +was obvious that the track was nearly level and the train running fast, +for dusky woods and snowy banks flung back a rapid snorting and a +confused roll of wheels. There were not many passengers and nobody +seemed to notice Foster, until as they entered a car near the end a man +raised a newspaper he was reading so that it hid his face. As they +left the car Foster thought he heard a rustle, as if the paper had been +lowered, but did not look round. The thing might have no meaning and +he did not want to hint that he was suspicious. + +He felt anxious but cool. Daly was the cleverer man and the game they +must play was intricate, but Foster thought he had the better cards. +The last car was empty except for two women, and leaving Pete there, he +went through to the smoking compartment at its end. It had only one +occupant, who looked up as he came in, and he calmly met Daly's gaze. +The fellow had his hand in his pocket and his face was rather hard, but +he did not show surprise or alarm. + +"Well," he said, "we have been looking for one another for a long time +and at last have met." + +Foster sat down opposite. "That's so. When we began, you were looking +for me, but since then things have, so to speak, been reversed. I've +followed you across England and much of Canada." + +"I've wondered what accounted for your boldness." + +"It looked as if you knew, but if you don't, I'm going to tell you," +Foster replied. "But I'd sooner you took your hand out of your pocket. +It would be dangerous to use a pistol, because my man's in the car. +Then I left a plain statement of all I know and surmise about you, with +instructions for it to be handed to the police if I don't come back." + +Daly removed his hand and took out a cigarette. "You're not such a +fool as some of my friends thought, I suspected this for some time." + +"We'll get to business," Foster rejoined. "I want to get it finished, +although I don't think we'll be disturbed." + +Daly gave him a keen glance, which Foster did not understand then, and +the latter resumed: "How did you find out enough about Featherstone to +enable you to blackmail him?" + +"I was secretary to the man he robbed; as a matter of fact, I stole one +or two of his private papers. I don't know that I meant to use them +then, but was afterwards in need of money and saw how it could be got. +The documents prove your partner's offense." + +"You began by extorting money, but your last object was to suppress the +evidence my partner could give about the cause of Fred Hulton's death." + +"Ah!" said Daly. "I wonder how much you or Featherstone know about +that. As there are no listeners, we can be frank." + +"Very well. You claim to have documents that give you some power over +Featherstone; I have others that give me power over you. Have you got +yours here?" + +Daly smiled. "I have not. They're kept where nobody but myself could +find them." + +"I see," said Foster. "Any money you could extort from Featherstone +was to be your private perquisite and not shared with the gang! Well, +I've brought my documents for you to examine. This is a traveler's +circular check for yourself, and this is an ordinary bank check for +another man. Taken alone, they don't prove very much, but I'll try to +show how they link up with other matters." + +He related how Carmen had given him the packet and his adventures in +Newcastle, and when he finished Daly nodded. + +"On the whole, you don't argue badly." + +"I expect a lawyer prosecuting for the Crown would argue it better, +particularly if I was ready to go into the witness-box. Then, of +course, there's Featherstone's evidence." + +For a moment Daly looked alarmed, but recovered his tranquillity +without much effort, and Foster saw he had to face his first serious +difficulty, though there was another. If Daly knew how little Lawrence +could really tell, it would be hard to deal with him. + +"Something depends on the importance of Featherstone's evidence." + +"Your accomplice thought it important, since he tried to throw him down +the elevator shaft," Foster rejoined. "Anyhow, Featherstone saw the +man who killed Fred Hulton." + +Daly's smile rather disturbed him. "Then it's strange he said nothing +about it at the inquiry, and when he was in the factory passage spoke +to the man he saw as if he was the night guard." + +"That's so. You probably know more about the methods of the police +than I do, but I understand they now and then keep something back, with +an object. Then Featherstone is not a fool. He was satisfied to +answer the questions he was asked. You mustn't take it for granted he +didn't know the man was a stranger." + +There was silence for some moments while Daly pondered this, although +Foster imagined he had carefully weighed the thing before. Then he +asked abruptly: "Did your partner think he saw me?" + +"No," said Foster, who resolved to tell the truth. + +Somewhat to his surprise, Daly made a sign of acquiescence. "Very +well! You are near the mark, and I'll tell you what happened. There's +not much risk in this, because no Judge would admit as evidence +something you declared you had been told. Besides, I'll own that it's +an unlikely tale. I was not at or near the factory that night, but I +had done some business with Fred Hulton. The lad was a gambler and I'd +lent him money; as a matter of fact, I never got it all back. However, +a man who now and then acted as my agent learned something about the +customs of the factory and went there the night he met Featherstone. +But he did not shoot Fred Hulton." + +"Then how was the lad killed?" + +"He shot himself; in a way, by accident." + +Foster looked at Daly with ironical surprise. "Your friends deal too +much in accidents! It was by an accident Walters left Featherstone on +the snow _couloir_." + +"It doesn't matter if you disbelieve me; this is what happened," Daly +rejoined. "My friend--we'll call him the man--went to the office late +in the evening and after some talk, covered Hulton with his pistol. +The lad had had some trouble about his debts, because the old man would +have fired him out of the business if he'd heard of them, and his nerve +wasn't good. He opened the safe when he was told and the man took the +bonds and went out of the office, leaving Hulton in his chair. We +don't know what the lad thought, but perhaps he saw he would be +suspected or was ashamed of not showing more grit. Anyhow, when the +man was on the stairs Hulton came up behind and told him to stop. He +had a pistol, but looked strained and nervous, and the other, who had +put his away, made a rush at him. Hulton slipped on the steps, his +pistol went off, and when he rolled to the bottom the other saw he was +dead." + +Foster was silent for a time. The story was, on the whole, plausible, +and although he did not see why Daly had told it him, he thought he +spoke the truth. So far he had been clearing the ground and had not +reached his object yet, but Daly showed no inclination to hurry him. +They were not likely to be disturbed, and although the rocking of the +car and throb of wheels indicated that the train was running fast, the +next station was some distance ahead. There was moonlight outside and +he saw towering rocks and masses of dark trees roll past. + +"Well," he remarked, "you have had a strange career. Leading a gang of +swindlers must have been a change from helping a philanthropist." + +Daly smiled rather grimly. "For a long time I served a strange man. +Philanthropy loses its charm when it becomes a business and results are +demanded from all the money given. Then my pay was arranged on the +surmise that to be engaged in such an occupation was reward enough, and +something must be allowed for the natural reaction. As a matter of +fact, I'm not surprised that Featherstone robbed my employer. He +deserved it; but I think we can let that go." + +Foster nodded and was silent. Perhaps it was because the excitement of +the chase was over, but he felt dull and tired. He had no sympathy +with Daly; the fellow was a rogue, but he had pluck and charm. In a +sense, it was unnatural that they should be talking quietly and almost +confidentially, but he did not feel the anger he had expected and his +antagonist was calm. Still, he was none the less dangerous and would +use any advantage that he could gain. + +"Now you had better tell me exactly what you want," Daly resumed. + +"I want you to leave my partner alone." + +"Would you be satisfied with my promise?" + +"No," said Foster; "not without some guarantee." + +"Then we must make a bargain. I'm able, if I think it worth while, to +give you what you ask. None of my confederates know anything about +Featherstone's history; this ought to be obvious if you claim that +Walters meant to kill him. Very well; I can, so to speak, bury an +unfortunate error of his so that it will never trouble him again. +That's much. What have you to offer?" + +Foster was now confronted with the difficulty he dreaded most, but he +tried to be firm. + +"I don't know that I need make an offer. I think I'm able to dictate +terms." + +"Are you?" Daly asked with an ironical smile. "Well, suppose you had +me arrested? My defense would be to discredit your partner's evidence. +My lawyer would prove that Featherstone was my enemy and had a motive +for revenge, by admitting that I had demanded money from him and would +tell the court on what grounds. You must see the danger in which you'd +put your friend." + +Foster saw it; indeed, he had seen it since he began the chase. He +must silence Daly, but the fellow was a criminal and he could not bring +himself to promise him immunity from the punishment he deserved. Yet +nothing less would satisfy the man. It looked as if he must deny his +duty as a citizen if he meant to save his friend. This was the +problem, and there was apparently no solution. Daly, who understood +it, watched him with dry amusement. + +"Well," resumed the latter, "I'll make a proposition. To begin with, +we'll exchange documents; the checks against the papers that compromise +Featherstone." + +"Which you haven't brought!" + +"Just so," said Daly. "If we both engage to make no use of the +documents we hold, they can be exchanged at some convenient time." + +"That means I must put the police off your track and meet you again." + +"Exactly; you have no choice. Besides, Featherstone must promise to +keep back anything he knows and you to say nothing about your meeting +with Graham." + +"I can't agree," Foster replied. + +"Then I'm afraid your partner must take the consequences." + +Foster pondered. Daly looked determined, and, knowing his friendship +for Lawrence, meant to trade on it, but Foster must try to persuade him +that he counted too much on this. The fellow played a clever game, but +it was nearly finished and Foster thought he still held a trump. + +"We had better ascertain to whom the consequences would be worse," he +said. "Featherstone risks a stained name, his relations' distress, and +the loss of friends. We'll admit it, but these things can be lived +down. You risk being tried for murder and certainly for a serious +robbery. There's evidence enough to convict you of a share in the +latter." + +"That is so," Daly agreed with unbroken calm. "I'm surprised you don't +see that it strengthens my demand. It's obvious that you must help me +to avoid the trial, or leave me to defend myself by doing as much +damage as possible. There's no other way." + +Foster thought there was, so to speak, a middle way between the two, +but it was hateful to indicate, and while he hesitated the car lurched +as the train ran out upon a bridge. The door swung open and Daly's +face got suddenly hard. A passenger from another part of the train had +entered the car and was looking into the smoking compartment. It was +the man Foster had seen at the hotel. Next moment Daly was on his feet +and springing across the narrow floor turned to Foster with a pistol in +his hand. + +"Blast you!" he said hoarsely. "You fixed this. I thought you were +straight!" + +Foster understood the situation. The man in the next car was Hulton's +detective or a police official who had known that Daly was on the +train, and feeling sure of him, had resolved to watch them both. He +had probably a companion, and Daly knew the game was up. The latter's +voice had warned Foster that he was desperate. Escape was impossible; +he meant to fight, and, suspecting Foster of treachery, would shoot him +first. This flashed upon Foster in a second, and as Daly, still facing +him, opened the vestibule door, he risked a shot and sprang forward. + +He heard the pistol explode and his face felt scorched, but he struck +savagely, and something rattled upon the floor. The pistol had dropped +and he was somewhat surprised to feel himself unhurt as he grappled +with Daly. They reeled through the door and fell against the rails of +the platform. Then he got a heavy blow and his grasp slackened. +Somebody ran through the smoking compartment, and while he tried to +collect his senses Daly stepped back to the gap in the rails. Foster +was dizzy, but he saw the man's dark figure against the moonlight. +There was a glimmer of snow in the gloom beneath, and a confused din; +the roar of wheels and a rattle from the bridge. Then Pete sprang +across the platform, passing in front of Foster, and when the latter +saw the gap again Daly had gone. + +Pete leaned against the back of the car, breathing hard and holding a +piece of torn silk. + +"I was aboot a second ower lang," he gasped. "He just stepped back and +left this in my han'." + +Foster, crossing the platform shakily, grasped the rail and looked +down. There were rocks and small trees immediately beneath him, but +farther back a level white belt indicated a frozen river covered by +thin snow. In the middle of this was a dark riband of water where the +stream had kept an open channel through the ice. The bridge was one of +the long, wooden trestles, flung across rivers and narrow valleys, that +are now being replaced by embankments and iron structures. Since the +frame, as usual, was open and just wide enough to carry the metals, +there was nothing to save anybody who fell off the cars from a plunge +to the bottom. Foster thought Daly knew this when he stepped off the +platform. Looking back along the curve of the bridge, he imagined that +the thing had happened when they were crossing the unfrozen part of the +stream. He shivered and then glanced round as a man who had followed +Pete closely took the object the latter held. + +"His necktie," he remarked. "If it had been stronger, we'd have had +him in handcuffs now." + +"Weel," said Pete dryly, "it's no certain I wouldna' ha' gone ower the +brig wi' him." + +There was a hoarseness in their voices that hinted at strain, but the +man, ordering Foster not to leave the car, hurried away, and soon +afterwards the train slackened speed. Then he came back with another +man, and telling Foster and Pete to follow him, got down upon the line. +Curious passengers were alighting and asking questions, but the leader +did not object when several followed the party. They had to walk some +distance, and when they reached the end of the trestle it was difficult +to get down the rocky bank. + +The bottom of the hollow was roughly level, but part was covered with +small, stunted trees, many of which had been uprooted and had fallen +across each other. In the open spaces, rocks and boulders rose out of +an inch or two of snow. It was plain that there was no chance of +Daly's alighting uninjured there. One of the men had brought a +train-hand's lantern, and they followed the curve of the trestle, which +rose, black and ominously high, against the moonlight. It was not very +dark among the trees and the beam of the lantern flickered across the +rocks and fallen trunks, but they found nothing, and presently came to +the ice, where the light was not needed. + +Nothing broke the smooth white surface, and the party stopped at the +edge of the water, which looked black and sullen as it rolled past, +streaked by lines of foam. There was a belt of ice on the other side, +but it was bare. + +"Must have gone plumb into the river," said one. "We'd see him if he'd +come down where it's frozen." + +"Unless he was able to crawl up the bank," somebody suggested. + +"I guess that's impossible," another replied, scraping the snow away +with his boot. "See here, it's hardly two inches deep; nothing to +soften the blow. Besides, anybody falling through the trestle would +strike some of the cross-braces or stringers." + +The man who had brought Foster touched his companion. "Nothing doing +here. We'll stop at Green Rock and you can raise a posse of ranchers +and look round to-morrow. I reckon you won't find anything." + +They went back and when the train started the man sat down opposite +Foster in the smoking compartment. + +"We'll probably want your evidence," he said. "What's your address?" + +Foster noted that he did not ask his name. "Perhaps the Hulton +Manufacturing Company, Gardner's Crossing, would be best. I'm going +there now." + +The man nodded meaningly. "That will satisfy me. On the whole, it's +lucky the fellow shot at you and Hulton told us how you stood. He +didn't miss by much; there's burnt powder sticking to your cheek." + + + + +XXXII + +FEATHERSTONE APOLOGIZES + +Three days afterwards, Foster entered the office of the Hulton Company, +where the head and treasurer of the firm waited him. It was late in +the evening when he arrived, but the private office was filled with the +softened throb of machinery and rumble of heavy wheels. Otherwise it +was very quiet and cut off by a long passage from the activity of the +mill. + +Hulton gave him his hand and indicated a chair. "You have got thinner +since you took your holiday and look fined down. Well, I reckon we all +feel older since that night last fall." + +"I do," said Foster, and added: "The mill seems to be running hard." + +"She's going full blast. We've had plans for extension standing over +until I could give my mind to them. I may be able to do so soon, and +expect to consult you and Featherstone. In the meantime, I got your +telegram and another that to some extent put me wise. But I want a +full account, beginning when you left." + +Foster told his story, and when he stopped, Hulton pondered for a +minute or two. He somehow looked more human than on Foster's last +visit; his stern vindictiveness was not so obvious, but Foster thought +he would demand full retribution. Then he said-- + +"You are keeping something back; I reckon you haven't taken these +chances on my account. There's something behind all this that concerns +you--or your partner--alone. Well, I guess that's not my business." + +He paused and resumed in a curt, businesslike manner: "Daly's tale is +plausible and may be true, but I have my doubts. Anyhow, I'm not going +to believe it because that doesn't suit my plans. We'll have Walters +tried for murder." + +"Although you admit he may be innocent!" exclaimed Foster. "It ought +to be enough to charge him with trying to kill Featherstone and +stealing your bonds. You have no evidence to convict him of the other +crime." + +Hulton smiled. "I don't care two bits if he's convicted or not. I +want to clear my boy's name and put you into the witness-box." + +"But you can't make me adapt my story to fit your charge, and the +defending lawyer would object to Daly's account as hearsay and not +evidence. The judge would rule it out." + +"I guess so," Hulton agreed. "For all that, it would have some effect, +and the judge couldn't rule it out before it was heard." He knitted +his brows and looked hard at Foster. "I'm going to prove that Fred was +robbed and was not the thief, and though I don't think Walters will be +convicted, he must take his chance. He was one of the gang that caused +my son's death, and when he tried to kill your partner knew what he was +up against." + +Foster thought this was frontier justice and urged another objection. + +"After all, the matter's in the hands of the police. You can't dictate +the line they ought to take." + +Percival, the treasurer, smiled, and Hulton answered with some dryness: +"That's true, in a way. But I have some influence, which will be used +for all it's worth. Anyhow, I've got to be consulted. If it hadn't +been for my agents, the police wouldn't have made much progress yet. +However, we'll let this go. It may interest you to know that Daly's +gone for good. Read him the night letter, Percival." + +It is usual in Canada to allow lengthy telegrams, called night letters, +to be sent at a very moderate charge when the lines are disengaged +after business hours, and the treasurer picked up a form. The message +related the careful search for Daly's body, which had not been found. +The snow for some distance on both sides of the river was undisturbed; +there was no sign that an injured man had crawled away, and if this +were not enough, no stranger had reached any of the scattered ranches +where he must have gone for food. Daly would not be found until the +ice broke up. + +"I expect you're glad the fellow can't be brought to trial," Hulton +remarked, looking hard at Foster. + +"I am," said Foster quietly. + +Hulton made a sign of understanding and there was faint amusement in +his eyes. + +"Well, you have a good partner. I like Featherstone; he's a live, +straight man, and if he had trouble in England, has made good here. +But he has his limits; I reckon you'll go further than he will." + +"No," said Foster. "I don't think you're right, but if you are, I'll +take my partner along with me, or stay behind with him." + +"What are you going to do now?" Percival asked. + +"Stop at the Crossing and see about starting the mill." + +Hulton nodded. "I guess that's the best thing. When you have got her +started, come and see what we want. I think that's all in the +meantime." + +Foster left them and began work next day. He wrote to Lawrence telling +him of his plans, but got no answer for a week, when a telegram arrived. + +"Come out if you can leave the mill. You're wanted here," it ran. + +Foster was puzzled, because he thought the summons would have come from +Lucy if Lawrence was ill. Yet the latter knew he was occupied and +ought not have sent for him unless he was needed. On the whole, he +felt annoyed. Lawrence, who was sometimes careless, should have told +him why he was required, and he could not conveniently leave the mill. + +Since he had found his partner, he had realized how wide, in a social +sense, was the difference between Alice Featherstone and a small +Canadian lumber dealer, and had, with characteristic determination, +resolved to bridge the gap. This meant bold planning and strenuous +effort, but he shrank from neither and meant his partner to help. +Lawrence, although resolute enough when things went against them, +sometimes got slack when they were going well, and Foster understood +that Lucy Stephen had money. For all that, if Lawrence was unwilling +to keep pace with him, he must be dragged. Foster frowned as he put +off matters that needed prompt attention until his return, and then +sent a telegram and caught the next west-bound train. + +When he got down at the flag station his annoyance returned. If there +was any ground for his being sent for, he ought to have been told, and +if there was not, he had been caused a loss of time that could have +been well employed. He resolved to tell Lawrence his views upon this +as he took the road to the hotel, but stopped with a beating heart when +he entered the veranda. + +Lawrence lounged negligently in a big chair and greeted him with a +smile, but his father, Mrs. Featherstone, and Alice sat close by, with +Mrs. Stephen and Lucy in the background. It cost Foster something of +an effort to preserve his calm, but he advanced to Mrs. Featherstone, +who gave him a look of quiet gratitude that repaid him for much. +Featherstone welcomed him heartily, but with a touch of embarrassment, +and then Foster thrilled as Alice gave him her hand. There was a +curious quiet confidence in her level glance, as if she meant that she +had known his promise would be kept. He did not remember what he said +to Mrs. Stephen and Lucy, but was grateful to Lawrence, who laughed. + +"I imagined you'd get something of a surprise, Jake. In fact, when the +train stopped I pictured you coming up the road as fast as you could, +divided between anxiety and a determination to tell me what you +thought. Before that, when I got your curt telegram, I told Alice I +could see you frowning as you filled up the form." + +"I didn't know Miss Featherstone was here," Foster replied awkwardly. + +"That's obvious," Lawrence said, chuckling. "Candor's one of your +virtues. But what about the rest of us?" + +Foster wished he had been more tactful and thought his comrade's +amusement might better have been restrained; but Lawrence resumed: "It +must have been annoying to leave the mill when you had much to do. The +curious thing is that when you set off from the Crossing with me you +declared you were tired of working for dollars." + +"Mr. Foster's tiredness didn't prevent him from working for his +friends," Alice interposed. + +"He must work, anyhow; that's the kind of man he is, and I don't +suppose he was much disappointed when he got a strenuous holiday." + +Then Featherstone turned to Foster. "I imagine we both dislike formal +speeches and Lawrence, knowing this, means to smooth over our meeting. +For all that, there's something to be said, and now, when the others +are here, is the proper time. When we got your telegram in England I +was overwhelmed by gratitude and regret. I saw, in fact, what a fool I +had been." He paused with a gleam of amusement in his embarrassment. +"Indeed, I'm not sure that the recognition of my folly wasn't the +stronger feeling. Now I'm half-ashamed to apologize for my ridiculous +suspicions and must ask you to forget all about them if you can." + +"They were very natural suspicions, sir. I couldn't logically blame +you and honestly don't think I did." + +"Well," said Featherstone, "it's some comfort to reflect that my wife +and daughter knew you better. I'm glad to think you're generous, +because there is no amend I can make commensurate with the service you +have done us." + +"In one sense, it was an excellent joke," Lawrence remarked. "While +Jake was lurking in the bogs and putting up with much unpleasantness on +my account, he was suspected of making away with me for the sake of an +old traveling bag, which was all he could have got. But don't you +think, sir, there was something characteristic about his telegram? I +mean the brief statement of his success." + +"My relief was so great that I did not criticize the wording, which I'm +not sure I remember," Featherstone replied. + +Lawrence glanced at his mother. "I expect you remember it." + +Mrs. Featherstone said nothing, but gave him a gentle, understanding +smile. + +Then Featherstone made Foster relate his last meeting with Daly on the +train. Foster had no wish to harrow the listeners' feelings, but his +memory was strangely vivid and he pictured the scene with unconscious +dramatic power. They saw it all, as he had seen it; the background of +flitting trees and glimmering snow, the struggle on the rocking +platform, while the icy wind screamed past the car, and the dark figure +filling, for a moment, the gap in the rails. Then they felt his thrill +of horror when the gap was empty and Pete held up the torn necktie. +Foster concluded with Pete's terse statement, "He just stepped back." + +"Into the dark!" said Alice softly and there was silence for the next +few moments. + +"He made us suffer," Featherstone remarked. "But he had pluck and +boldly took the best way. It is not for us to judge him now." + +Then Lawrence leaned forward with a flushed face. "In the beginning, I +made you suffer, and it might have been better if I had openly paid for +my fault. We'll let that go; but there's something yet to be said." +He stopped and looked at the others with badly suppressed emotion. +"That I have escaped a fate like Daly's is due to the love and trust +that was given me in spite of my offense, and my partner's unselfish +loyalty." + +Mrs. Featherstone looked at him with gentle approval and her husband +said, "Lawrence has taken a very proper line; but I think this matter +need not be spoken of again." + +It was a relief to talk about something else, and by and by the party +broke up. An hour or two later, Foster, who wanted to send his foreman +some instructions, met Lucy in a passage as he was going to the +writing-room. She stopped him and said, "I haven't thanked you, Jake; +you were careful not to give me an opportunity, but you have banished a +haunting fear I couldn't get rid of. You know what I mean--Lawrence +told me his story. Now he is safe." + +She stopped Foster, who began to murmur something. "This is not all I +want to say. I am not the only person who loves Lawrence and owes you +much. Don't be too modest; urge your claim." + +Foster would not pretend he did not understand and looked at her +steadily. "If I made a claim on such grounds, I should deserve to have +it refused." + +"Then choose better grounds, Jake; I think they can be found," Lucy +answered with a smile. "But show what you want. You can't expect to +have it offered, for you to pick up." + +She went away, leaving him in a thoughtful mood, though his heart beat. +Lucy was clever and would not have given him such a hint unless she +thought it was justified. Still, she might be mistaken and he feared +to risk too much; then there were other difficulties--he was not rich. +He went to the writing-room, knitting his brows, and stopped abruptly +when he found Alice there alone. She put aside a half-finished letter, +as if she did not want him to go away, and he advanced to the table and +stood looking down at her. + +"I did not send the telegram stating that I had found Lawrence." + +"No," she said, smiling, "I know you didn't. But why do you wish to +explain this?" + +Foster hesitated. "To begin with, it must have looked as if I wanted +to boast about keeping my promise and hint that you owed me something." + +"But you were glad you were able to keep your promise?" + +"I was," said Foster; "very glad, indeed." + +Alice gave him a quick glance that thrilled him strangely. "So +Lawrence said for you what you would have liked to say yourself? One +would imagine he knew your feelings." + +"Yes," said Foster steadily, "I didn't tell him, but I think he did +know." + +He stopped and Alice looked down at the table for a moment. Then she +looked up again and met his fixed gaze. + +"After all, you would have liked to have my gratitude?" + +There was something in her face that stirred his blood, and forgetting +his drawbacks he made a reckless plunge. + +"I wanted it tremendously, but it wasn't enough." + +"Not enough! Aren't you rather hard to satisfy?" she asked with a hint +of pride that deceived but did not stop him. + +"I'm afraid I'm very rash," he answered quietly. "You see, I wanted +your love; I wanted you. But I was afraid to ask." + +She looked at him in a way he did not understand, although her manner +enforced a curious restraint. + +"Now I wonder why?" + +"You're so beautiful! I durstn't hope you'd come down to my level. +I'd nothing to offer." + +"You have unselfishness, loyalty, and unflinching steadfastness. Are +these nothing?" + +Foster felt embarrassed, but the sense of restraint was stronger. +Alice had somehow imposed it and he must wait until she took it away. +He thought she wanted him to finish. + +"Then I knew my disadvantages. In many ways, Canada is a hard country, +and I'm poor." + +"Did you think that would count for very much? We are not rich at the +Garth." + +"I seemed to know that if by any chance you loved me, you would not +flinch. But there were other things; your upbringing and traditions. +I couldn't hope your parents would agree." + +Then Alice got up with a quiet grace he thought stately and stood +facing him. There was a strange new softness in her eyes that had yet +a hint of pride. + +"I don't think I am undutiful, but it is my right to choose my husband +for myself." She paused and his heart beat fast as he waited until she +resumed: "The evening I came to the orchard I had chosen you." + +He held out his hands with a low cry of triumph and she came to him. + +Next morning Foster saw Featherstone, who listened without surprise, +and then remarked: "It would perhaps have been better if you had come +to me before the matter went so far; but I can't lay much stress on +this. The times are changing." + +"I couldn't, sir. You see, until last night----" + +Featherstone nodded. "Yes, of course! But all that's done with. I +can't understand how the absurd notion came into my mind." + +"Things did look suspicious," said Foster, smiling. + +"Well," resumed Featherstone, "except for that ridiculous interval, I +liked you from the beginning, as did my wife. Besides, it would be +very hard for either of us to refuse you anything, and if Alice is +satisfied--But there's another consideration; I understand from +Lawrence that your business is not large, and although Miss Stephen +wants him to extend it, this won't augment your share. Well, you +understand why I must ask you to wait a year, until we see how you get +on." + +Foster, having succeeded better than he expected, thanked him and +agreed, and a few days later returned to the Crossing. The +Featherstones were coming to stay there for a time, and business +demanded his attention. He had long worked hard, but had now an object +that spurred him to almost savage activity. He resented the loss of +time when Walters was brought to trial and he had to attend the court. +The man was sentenced for robbery, and Foster's evidence, although +objected to by the defense, sufficed to prove that Fred Hulton had no +complicity in the theft. + +A few weeks later, when Featherstone and his family were at the +Crossing, Hulton sent for Foster. + +"I suppose you won't want to sell the mill?" he asked. + +"No," said Foster. "Business looks like booming and our chances are +pretty good." + +Hulton made a sign of agreement. "That's so. I reckon you could do a +bigger trade than you have the money to handle. However, I guess you +and Featherstone mean to continue the partnership?" + +"Yes," said Foster, quietly, "we stick together." + +"Although he is going to marry a lady who will invest some money in the +business? If your friendship stands that test, it must be pretty +sound. But I'd better state why I sent for you. Our trade is growing +fast, and there's a risk of our running short of half-worked material. +Well, if you won't sell your mill, you must enlarge it on a scale that +will enable you to keep us going, besides coping with your other +orders. I'm open to supply the capital, and have thought out a rough +proposition. Give him the paper, Percival." + +The treasurer did so, and Foster studied the terms with keen +satisfaction. + +"If there's anything you don't agree to, you can indicate it," Hulton +remarked. + +Foster hesitated. "It's a very fair and liberal offer. But I wouldn't +like to take it, so to speak, as a reward. You see, I didn't------" + +"Expect anything from me," Hulton suggested with dry amusement. "You +were acting for Featherstone, but were willing to do me a favor! +Anyhow, you can regard the thing as a plain business proposition. I +get a number of advantages, besides good interest." + +"Then I'll accept the main terms now, because I can promise for +Featherstone," Foster replied. "If any alteration's needed, we can +talk about it afterwards." + +He left the office with a thrill of satisfaction. With Hulton's help, +he and Lawrence could extend their operations and control a very +profitable trade. Featherstone had told him he must wait a year, but +by this stroke of luck he had made good when only a month had gone. +Still, it was characteristic that he finished his day's work before he +went to the hotel where the others were staying. + +Featherstone frankly expressed his pleasure at the news, and afterwards +Foster and Alice went out and stopped at the bridge on the outskirts of +the town. There was a moon in the clear sky and the night was calm. +The snow was crisp, but patches of uncovered wood showed where it had +melted off the bridge, and the southern slope of the river bank was +nearly bare. In the stream, fissured ice drifted down a wide, dark +channel; one felt that spring was coming. + +Behind the town, somber pines rolled back across the rocky wilderness; +in the foreground, dazzling arc-lamps flung their blue reflections on +the ice, and the lights of the Hulton factory ran far up in gleaming +rows. Civilization had reached the spot and stopped for a time. The +scene held harsh contrasts between man's noisy activities and the +silent austerity of the wilds. + +"It's a grim country," Foster said. "But one gets fond of it." + +Alice put her hand in his. "I think I shall love it; I'm not afraid, +Jake. There's something in the clear air and sunshine that makes one +brave. Then it's virgin country; waiting for you and the others to +make good use of." + +Foster nodded. "Something of a responsibility! Our efforts are crude +yet and the signs of our progress far from beautiful, but we'll do +better by and by. Well, I'm glad you're not daunted, though I don't +think I really feared that." He paused for a moment with a smile of +deep content. "To-day has banished my last anxiety; I'm a wonderfully +lucky man!" + +"Not altogether lucky, Jake, I think. Character counts for more than +fortune, and you really won success by the stubbornness you showed in +the Border bogs. It would have come sooner or later, if you hadn't met +Hulton." + +"I'm doubtful," Foster answered. "What I meant to win was you; but in +a way, that's wrong. If you hadn't given yourself to me, it would have +been impossible. Well, it has been a day of triumph, and now, if you +are willing, we needn't wait very long." + +Alice blushed and looked up with a shy smile. "When you want me, Jake, +I will be ready." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CARMEN'S MESSENGER*** + + +******* This file should be named 14361.txt or 14361.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/3/6/14361 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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