Part 10 (2/2)

Moreover, if anybody thought it worth while to look under the table, the letters LF could be distinguished and Lawrence's na learned froed that he should be left alone for a ood use of the tiray 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 e 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 thefor the long drive, he could not stop long at the Garth; but Foster h

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 th, 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 for 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 gliravel 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 cao without a last word of thanks,” she said ”It is splendid! We can't forget”

”I believe I' trip,” Foster replied ”Then, you see, the Garth is a remarkably nice place to co forward to h to hope I won't have that satisfaction all tovery friendly in her look and her voice was unusually soft

”You can always be sure of your welcome and ill ood luck”

Foster was seldo sorasped the wheel, had his back to theirl's hand, which rested on the rail, and kissed it She e 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 ood, 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 aaround when they caleaht in the distance He lost it a few ain 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 victiot near the station, and whether they overcame it or not depended on John's coolness and nerve Foster thought the ht and a daed thorn bushes leaped up in the glare of the laht beae, because Foster could not tell where he was and ht 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 dah a peatan incline, to judge by the heavy throb of the engine Shallow ruts, filled ater, 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 h and found a strange satisfaction in being rash

Besides, no ot into, he would be repaid by the iven him The way the war else had done Anyhow, he had started on the adventure and was going to see it through

After a tie, 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 ood, 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 gleaht It looked as if the pursuers had lost sight of the front car's tail la their speed