Part 20 (1/2)

”Certainly not,” Foster agreed ”If I'ht, I'll bring theet off”

Graham did not move, and the letters were out of Foster's reach

”You have got your instructions from Gascoyne and knohat to do if you have any trouble on your journey?”

Foster felt eone to in Edinburgh, and durst not risk a fresh mistake Besides, it was possible that there was not such a person a the other's friends and the question was a trap

”No,” he said boldly ”I can get all the instructions that are needful when I meet Daly Give me the letters”

”I think not It would be better to wait until we hear what Gascoyne has to say, since you haven't seen hi to send with the other documents Suppose you come back about this tiined that if he agreed, he would find the office closed and Grahaone; unless perhaps the felloaited for him with one or two of his accomplices Foster was certain he had accoaet the letters

”No,” he said ”I' to show ht the packet safe

But I' to put myself to much inconvenience You have written the letters Let me have them; Ipistol and was glad to feel it there, though he hardly thought he would be forced to draw it He was physically stronger than Graham, but it had coonist Besides, he could not tell how ht be in serious danger if somebody else came in Still, he must not look anxious and quietly fixed his eyes on Graham's face

”I can't take the risk,” the latter declared ”Will you wait until I see if I can get Gascoyne on the telephone?”

The telephone was in the other office and Foster durst not let the h and have just tiet to the station”

There was silence for a few moments and Foster felt his heart beat Heanything unusual, but if this was impossible, he had another plan His ; he would pin the fellow to his desk while he seized the letters Though he rim; but Graham carelessly pushed the letters towards him

”Very well! You will take the responsibility if there's any trouble”

”I will,” said Foster, as coolly as he could, and picked up the envelopes ”Sorry if I've detained you Good afternoon”

He was half afraid to turn his back to the other, but there was no avoiding this and he heard no suspicious movement until he reached the door Then, as he expected, the telephone bell rang, and Foster, running down the steps, drew a breath of relief when he reached the street It was now dark, but he felt coloom

”Look behind you now and then and tellthat Pete's eyes could be trusted, carefully reviewed the situation when they turned into a busy street

It was obvious that the conclusions he had come to by the peat-stack were correct, and the police, ere obviously watching hiedy If so, his movements had not been calculated to allay their suspicions He had now papers that were probably dangerous in his pocket, and it he were caught before he got rid of them, it would be difficult to prove his innocence The safe line would be to ive up the docu as he kept the But he did not ive them up just yet

His duty to the State was plain, but he was frankly deterined that he could do so, although the thing would be difficult For all that, Daly must be forced to keep Lawrence's secret Then he had, to so Grahaed upon some profitable private business It looked as if Grahaang ht not trust each other very far The trouble was that Daly ht not be easily found, and in the ainst; but he meant to be careful, and to tell the police all he knew as soon as he had dealt with Daly

Nothing indicated that they were followed on their way to the Central Station, where Foster left Pete outside and ascertained that a train would shortly start for Carlisle He would have liked to travel by it, since he expected to find Daly near the western Border Besides, it was prudent to leave Newcastle as soon as he could, since his injured hand uishable and Graham had run to the telephone The latter would not have let hietting them back Foster did not kno ined he had to deal with a well-organized gang, ould find it much easier to watch the railway than the lonely h a crowd on a busy platform, he left the station by another door, where he met Pete, whom he had sent round It was possible that these precautions were needless, but he did not mean to take any risk he could avoid

”Where will ye be for the noo?” Pete asked

”The head of Liddesdale, to begin with But I don't know yet if we'll go west by the old military road, or across the ets upon my track”

Pete's eyes twinkled ”It will be a clever man who tracks us e tak' the heather But have ye the papers ye went tae steal?”

”I have If they're what I think and I can keep them safe until I use them, they're worth twenty pounds to you”