Part 17 (1/2)

He was anxious and puzzled, because he did not knohether the men wanted him or Lawrence The nearer of them would, no doubt, see hiht seize and put the fellow out of action before the other came up This, however, would be risky, and since he did not know their intentions he was not sure he would gain much if he came off victor To his relief, the man went back and joined his co about, and then set off rapidly down hill as if they had decided to go on to Jedburgh

When their footsteps died away Foster turned back along the hedge and struck across the h, and he must try to find the house that Pete had told hi so and on the way fell into a bog, but at length a light blinked on a hillside and he ca, sheltered by a few stunted ash trees A shed thatched with heather and a rough stone byre stood near the house, and a big peat-stack filled one end of a , until an old man with a lantern drove it off and asked what he wanted

Foster said he wanted shelter for the night and illing to pay for the accommodation, to which the other replied that they did not take in strangers When Foster stated that Long Pete had told hio there he hesitated, and finally said, ”Weel, ye can coed kitchen was very clean and a big peat fire burned in the grate A black oak ainst the wall and old-fashi+oned china filled the rack above On the opposite side, there was a large cupboard, which Foster thought concealed a bed The room arm and looked comfortable after the wet moor Then Foster turned to the red-cheeked old wo by the fire and fixed on hiaze He explained that he was tired and wanted to stay the night, adding that Pete had said they would be willing to accommodate him

”What for no', if ye're a friend o' his?” she asked ”It's a lang road to Jedburgh But ye'll be wanting sory and after a ti ave his host his tobacco pouch and for an hour or two they talked and smoked The rave politeness and asked his guest no aard questions Foster thought the wo him, but she restrained her curiosity and he adood He was beginning to understand and like the lowland Scots, though he saw that so

They were reserved, essentially practical, and industrious, but they had, when one came to know the Englishmen Then they were marked by an individualistic independence of character that iven to protesting about freedoe to find a well-organized fraternity of poachers in a quiet, law-keeping country, but onefor habits inherited froood landlords of ancient stock, but this did not prevent theame Since he had, so to speak, beento feel that they could be trusted, and he was somehow sure of this

He slept soundly in the cupboard bed andat the farm next day, but as he stood outside the house in the afternoon his host ca about a stranger on a walking tour”

”Ah!” said Foster ”Do you knohether they asked if the love?”

”They did that!”

Foster pondered He was being searched for, and his host kneas the man inquired about, but the old fellow's face was expressionless

”Since I didn't get so far as the road, they'd learn nothing”

The other's eyes twinkled ”I wouldna' say they would find out much if they cam' up here”

”Well,” said Foster, ”I don't know yet if I'll go on to-day or not”

”Ye ken best aboot that,” the farmer answered with Scottish dryness

”I dinna' see ht”

He went off, but Foster felt satisfied that he was safe with him, and presently strolled round to the peat-stack where he sat down in the sun There was a hollohere the peats had been pulled out, and the brown dust ar watched, but whether by the police, or Daly, or so to show He did not think his poaching adventure had much to do with it, but he had taken the packet to Newcastle, although he had been warned against this There was a ot no further, and as he sat, gazing vacantly across thehistled round the stack It got cold and Foster's pipe burned out, but he did notfor a clew, but he began to see a gliht and presently clenched his fist with an excla flash

He had been tricked and made a tool Carmen had acted by her father's, or soave hi before he sent him on to Newcastle

nobody would suspect him and that hy he had been entrusted with the packet in Canada It was now clear that he had been made use of to carry the stolen bonds to Great Britain Car about them, but had been influenced by Daly Perhaps she was in love with him, but in the ain, because he ht was clear and his brain orking well

Alice Featherstone had given hiested that the packet was so watched and Daly's pursuit of Lawrence Of course it was! The police had not land without any obvious business, and if Hulton or his agents had warned thean to see why Daly was determined to find Lawrence

Fred Hulton had been robbed and killed and Daly was implicated in the crime, if he had not committed it himself The fellow's first object was not blackmail; he meant to use his power over Lawrence to ensure his secrecy Lawrence was the only person who had seen the murderer

It could not have been clear if he had mistaken him for the watchman or not when he went into the pay-office at the factory, and as long as a doubt re had to reckon on Foster felt sure there was a gang Ad all this, one could understand why Daly an to see how he could make use of the situation

He had been easily deceived and the plotters no doubt thought hie of their belief and asked for an answer to his et a letter or find out enough about theue plan appealed to hie at the way he had been tricked, and it would be so to circumvent the people who had o to the police yet: Lawrence's secret ain such a hold on Daly as would render him powerless to injure his comrade After that, when he kne far the ht to be done Well, he would go to Newcastle and see Grahaht need help and thought he knehere to find it Getting up with a quick, resoluteto write to Pete and bring him here,” he said to the woman