Part 67 (1/2)

”Just as we were speaking about you, Mr. Craig,” the landlady continued.

”I was saying to the young lady that there was only one thing I could wish for you both, and that was that you weren't quite so worried like.”

Craig seemed scarcely to hear her.

”Look across the road,” he begged. ”Tell me if there is a man in a blue serge suit and a bowler hat, smoking a cigar, looking across here.”

Mrs. Malony and the girl both obeyed. The girl was the first to speak.

”Yes!” she announced. ”He is looking straight at these windows.”

Craig groaned and sank down upon a chair.

”Leave us, if you please, Mrs. Malony,” he ordered. ”I'll ring when I'm ready.”

Mrs. Malony hesitated with the door-k.n.o.b in her hand.

”I'm not wis.h.i.+ng to say anything that might sound offensive,” she observed slowly, ”but if it's a case of trouble of any sort with the police, Mr.

Craig--”

”That will do,” Craig interrupted. ”It isn't anything of the sort you think. You are not likely to suffer by having me here, Mrs. Malony, or by looking after my niece when I have gone.”

The landlady left the room silently. The girl came over to her uncle and threw her arm around his neck.

”Please don't talk about going away, uncle,” she pleaded. ”I have been so happy since I have been with you.”

He patted her head, felt in his pocket, and drew out a little paper bag, from which he shook a bunch of violets. The girl pinned them to her frock with a little cry of pleasure.

”How kind you are to me!” she exclaimed. ”You think of everything!”

He sighed.

”If I had had you for a little longer, Mary,” he said, ”perhaps I should have been a better man. Go to the window, please, and tell me if that man is still there.”

She crossed the room with light footsteps. Presently she returned.

”He is just crossing the street,” she announced. ”I think that he seems to be coming here.”

Craig took the girl for a minute into his arms.

”Good-bye, dear,” he said. ”I want you to take this paper and keep it carefully. You will be cared for always, but I must go.”

”But where must you go?” she asked bewildered.

”I have an appointment at Professor Ashleigh's,” he told her. ”I cannot tell you anything more than that. Good-bye!”

He kissed her for a moment pa.s.sionately. Then suddenly he tore himself away. She heard him run lightly down the stairs. Some instinct led her to the back window. She saw him emerge from the house and pa.s.s down the yard.

Then she went to the front. The man in the blue serge suit was talking to the landlady below. She sank into a chair, puzzled and unhappy. Then she heard heavy footsteps. The door was opened. The man in the blue serge suit entered, followed by the protesting landlady.

”There's no sense in coming here to worry the young lady,” Mrs. Malony declared irritably. ”As for Mr. Craig, I told you that he'd gone out.”