Part 26 (2/2)

”I thought you would be glad to know I a in this car?” Foster asked sharply

”As far as Hawick,” she answered with a twinkle of aed, I don't see why you should be surprised”

”No,” said Foster, ”of course not! Well, I really think it was a useful hint”

”Perhaps so Thank you, and good-by,” she said sned to the driver

The car rolled away and Foster, watching it speed up the street, wondered where Daly was, and why the girl had sent for him It was possible that she hadand not to steal away, but he did not understand her amusement, and feared a Parthian shot Heback to the office, he asked the clerk: ”Can you tell me when Mr

Forbes will be down for breakfast?”

”He left last night The porter took his luggage to the twelve o'clock train”

Foster savagely clenched his fist He had been cheated; the girl had warned Daly, who had suspected soer Still, Foster did not think she had told him all and she had taken his advice; but this did not et upon his track as soon as possible Running down the steps, he jumped into the car and told the man to drive to the station

The twelve o'clock train went to London, but there was a connection by which one could reach Liverpool at about four in the ht o'clock, and Foster walked up and down the platfor at his folly, for a minute or two Then he ascertained that there was another train for Liverpool in half an hour which would arrive at noon, and sending the car aaited about the office until he could get tickets After all, he ht find Daly before the steamer sailed

XXII

CARMEN GETS A SHOCK

On his way to Liverpool, Foster tried to review the situation cal, but he still felt sore and annoyed with himself He had weakly yielded to sentiirl and had paid for it, because she had, no doubt, warned Daly, who knew froh to rimly resolved that he would not let any Quixotic folly spoil his plans again He had been cleverly tricked, but was not beaten yet, because a study of the steamshi+p advertisements led him to believe that Daly could not leave Liverpool until the afternoon Moreover, the felloas obviously afraid of hi shortly after twelve o'clock, he drove to the Canadian Pacific office and asked a clerk for a list of the passengers by a steaiven a list and saw that Mr

Andrew Forbes had taken a saloon berth This indicated that Daly had booked his passage beforehand

”I see ot a first and a second-class berth left?”

”We had,” the clerk said, sone”

”Gone!” exclaiot a shock ”Don't your steareed ”However, this is an extra sailing, and we sent her off earlier to pick up passengers at Belfast Lough”

Foster said nothing, but left the office with a determined look A swift Canadian Northern liner sailed froht to reach Quebec soon after the other boat He thought of telegraphing to secure a berth, but decided not to do so He had given Gordon his Carlisle address, which was all that he had pro froht make inquiries at the steamshi+p offices On the whole, it seemed safer to leave Liverpool and he took the first train to Bristol, but got out at Hereford, which was about half-way It would be aard if the police interfered with hi Bristol shortly before the steae for himself and Pete, and arrived at Quebec about twelve hours after the Canadian Pacific boat Daly had got a start, and although Foster did not ive up the chase, he felt depressed as the train sped through the forests of Ontario It was not long since he had co forith pleasure to a holiday Now he looked back, with a feeling of unreality, on his wanderings as All he had done seemed ridiculous and fantastic nobody was the better for it, while he had involved hile The police were probably on his track and Featherstone suspected him; he had acted like a roht gleam; Alice trusted him, and heat Gardner's Crossing in the evening, he sent Pete to the hotel and went to Austin's house He ainst her wiles; he was not going to be a sentieneral way, Carmen was, of course, too clever for hies which he -roori preparations to receive him Carmen knew the power of her beauty, which, however, owed much to her tasteful dress In the meantime, he looked about the rooirl kne to give The color-plan of carpets, rugs, and curtains, although rather vivid, was good; the furniture pleased the eye Foster had once thought it charly artistic, but knew better now Alice Featherstone had taught hinified beauty He felt that difference plainly when Carmen came in, dressed like the fashi+onable woh

”You have come back soon, but it's nice to see you,” she said with a sone”