Part 7 (2/2)

”I have been in Toronto, but I know the small towns near the Manitoba border best In fact, I left an a about fourteen days ago”

Froined 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 ca about the developh he had hardly expected her to be interested he thought she was, and the old

”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 hih he did not mention Fred Hulton's death Her manner, however, was quite correct; he had been of so with hiot out and she opened a book he went to the s-compartment

When he left the train at the Waverley station he saw her on the platforht 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 ely clean and cold No s 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 re a passer-by took a trah the southern quarter of the town into a wide road, lined by well-built stone houses Standing in sardens, they ran back to the open country, with a bold ridge of ot dohere he was directed and crossed the road to one of the houses They were all ht 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 s-roo 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 forht the man looked at him sharply, but it was about four o'clock in the afternoon and the light was not good

”Mr Grahao,” he said ”Do you know him personally?”

”No,” said Foster ”Miss Austin asked ive him the packet”

”Then you know Mr Austin”

”In a way,” said Foster, set much further In fact, Austin's a business rival of mine”

The ather 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 Grahaone to Newcastle, but I have his address somewhere

If you ait 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 soirl pushed the door back, and then stopped, looking at hiirl he had helped into the train

”I didn't know you were co here,” she said

”Nor did I, in a sense,” Foster answered with a smile ”I mean I didn't knoas your house”

”My na and rather conspicuous”

”It would haveif I had seen it In fact, I irl looked puzzled, and Foster explained that he had coiven 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 hi, but he replied: ”I'htfully; ”do youwhat you mean by that?”