Part 37 (2/2)
Stretton's heart sank in fear. He had disobeyed the summons before. He remembered Pamela's promise to befriend his wife. He remembered her warning that he should not leave his wife.
”She sent you then with an urgent message that I should return home,”
he said.
”I carry the same message again, only it is a thousand times more urgent.”
He drew a letter from his pocket as he spoke, and handed it to Stretton. ”I was to give you this,” he said.
Stretton looked at the handwriting and nodded.
”Thank you,” he said gravely.
He tore open the envelope and read.
CHAPTER XXV
TONY STRETTON BIDS FAREWELL TO THE LEGION
It was a long letter. Tony read it through slowly, standing in the narrow lane between the high walls of p.r.i.c.kly pear. A look of incredulity came upon his face.
”Is all this true?” he asked, not considering at all of whom he asked the question.
”I know nothing, of course, of what is written there,” replied Warrisden; ”but I do not doubt its truth. The signature is, I think, sufficient guarantee.”
”No doubt, no doubt,” said Stretton, absently. Then he asked--
”When did you reach Ain-Sefra?”
”This morning.”
”And you came quickly?”
”Yes; I travelled night and day, I came first of all to Ain-Sefra in search of you.”
”Thank you,” said Stretton.
He did not ask how it was that Warrisden had come first of all to Ain-Sefra; such details held no place in his thoughts. Warrisden _had_ found him, _had_ brought the letter which Pamela Mardale had written.
That letter, with its perplexities and its consequences, obliterated all other speculations.
”You have a camp here?” Stretton asked.
”Yes.”
”Let us go to it. The news you have brought has rather stunned me. I should like to sit down and think what I must do.”
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