Part 10 (1/2)

John looked pained at his bluntness ”I heard so about it, sir

Perhaps Mr Lawrence was a little wild It soood 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 so like it, sir”

Foster knew this was as much as he would admit, but felt that he could trust the er, and with Mr Featherstone's perh, but ?”

”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 noe don't keep a chauffeur I often drive to the station”

”That's satisfactory I , but nobody else ood, sir,” said John ”When you're ready you can give o 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 felloho he thought was unflinchingly loyal to the Featherstones

After all, it was so to have the respect and affection of one's servant

IX

THE FALSE TRAIL

When Foster got up nextit 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 so Daly on the track, and after all I'er it's delayed, the better; so 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 land, he'll have soe is that he won't be able to bother you while all his ti me”

”That is possible,” said Featherstone ”But you ue, since you hed ”I don'tto enjoy the chase”

”There's a point that oes to the police when he can't find Lawrence, it would be aard I should be no better off than I a as Daly sees the s 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 ti else”

Foster left hi his host a favor and this was so, 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 hi to feel that he could now follow his bent, without being ha pay After all, there was not ht he was going to get soame Still, he did not want to leave the Garth Alice had treated hian to hope he was ood opinion It was, however, co 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 sed the cloth so that it hung over and covered part of the bag but did not hide it altogether He took so 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