Part 17 (2/2)
”I don't suppose you'll turnglance, and her husband see, ye'll find Pate an honest ly
”So am I; it's an honest man I want You have trusted me and I'll trust you as far as I can when Pete arrives Shall we leave it until then?”
The woman nodded ”Ye can stay until he ken what yere business is”
”Thank you,” said Foster, who sat down to write to Pete
He thought her judgment would be just, if she had not already decided in his favor Until he came to Scotland, he had never met people who could say so little and ined one could depend upon their standing by all that they implied They were taciturn but staunch
XV
THE GLOVE
Pete arrived in the evening when it was getting dark, and after a ether, Foster moved his chair back from the table and sat opposite his colow fro and quiet brown faces as they waited for him to speak He adical reason for trusting these people and perhaps no right to involve them in his difficulties, while the sensible course would be to put the matter in the hands of the police
But this was a course he did not mean to take
”I sent for you because I want your help and I' to pay for it well,” he said to Pete
”Just that!” Pete answered quietly ”In an ordinar' way, I'm no' verra particular, but before I take the money I'd like to ken how it's to be earned”
”As a et all of it until it is earned and I see how e, and if necessary go to the police”
Pete grinned ”They're no' the kin' o' gentry I haefrae them?” the woman asked
Foster saw the others' eyes were fixed on him and he must, to some extent, satisfy their curiosity He did not think he could have convinced conventional Englishmen, or perhaps Canadians, but these Scots were different They were certainly not less shrewd than the others, but while sternly practical in ination; moreover, they were descendants of the Border cattle-thieves
”I' frorounds for fearing the and, so far as I know, have done nobody wrong”
There was silence for a nized that his stateht the others did not discredit it
”If I could tell you the whole story, I would, but that's impossible just now,” he resuht people, are involved Of course, the thing looks suspicious, and you know nothing about ainst the law”
They were silent yet, but after a few lance at the wooing to Newcastle to try to get some information and papers that will help me to save a friend from serious trouble That'sabout a crime in Canada, by which another friend of mine suffered terribly I et theerous men, ill try to take them back That's why I want Pete; but he'll probably find it a risky business”
Foster waited anxiously for a reply He was not justified in expecting it to be favorable, but he did so The woman seemed to ponder, but presently turned to Pete
”Ye had better gang”