Part 24 (2/2)

He would have liked to wait, but reflected that if he killed or disabled somebody, he would have to justify his action, and he had co papers in his pocket He did not want to destroy the checks or tell his story to the police yet Then he noticed that the rustling was getting farther away, as if the h the wood towards the moor behind it, and he turned back half-reluctantly to the road After getting over the fence, he kept on the wet grass, and had nearly reached the end of the hen he heard so behind him The moon was now behind the firs and their dark shadow stretched from fence to wall It looked as if Pete had heard the shot and was co to his help, but Foster kept on until he was nearly out of the wood, and then stopped, standing against the fence, a yard or two back froht fell upon the road

There was no use in running an unnecessary risk

The steps got nearer; he heard soloom Then Foster thrust the pistol into his pocket, for the ht was Gordon, whoh hotel

”Mr Foster!” he exclaiht he was not surprised, and sitting on the fence took out a cigarette as calmly as he could He had Graham's checks and must be careful

”Yes,” he said ”I didn't expect to see you”

”I iine it's lucky that you knew me,” Gordon reht to have stopped you at the other end of the wood”

”You atching it then?”

”Both ends It's obvious now that we should have watched the htfully; ”then you knew soht it very possible”

”Well, you knoas shot at, but I io?”

Gordon laughed ”My friends tell orous as I was Besides, it's not my part of the business to chase a suspected person across the hills, and I have men able to do it better than I can But you stopped as you entered the wood Did you expect to be shot at?”

”I thought it very possible,” Foster answered dryly

”A fair retort! You were shot at Were you nearly hit?”

”I believe the felloould have got un instead of a pistol; but the for to carry about”

”That's true,” Gordon agreed ”But, after escaping, why did you stop here and run the risk again?”

Foster pondered There was no sign of Pete, but he thought the latter could be trusted to elude the police, and did not want to let Gordon know he had felt it necessary to provide hi of this kind would be obvious if he stated that he aiting for a co to be shot at, and when I heard souard You see, I had already gone into the wood to look for him”

”But you must have known that it would have been very rash for the man who fired the shot to run noisily down the middle of the road”

”I suppose I was rather excited and didn't re for a fewwith him He had admitted that he had partly expected to be attacked, and the other knew of the danger to which he had been exposed This was puzzling; but it was lucky thean attack Foster believed he had not omitted to do so from carelessness

Then Gordon said, ”I oing to stop tonight?”

Foster told him and he nodded ”I know the inn and will call there as soon as I can Leave your address if you go before I coain, had gone about a mile when he heard steps behind him Soon after he stopped Pete came up