Part 35 (1/2)

”Perhaps I was putting it a bit too high, but the deal ought to turn out a snap if you can wait a while,” he said, and laughed ”Anyhow I've got to give you bedrock facts after the way you caught me out

Say, you're pretty s over a land deal unless you're careful,”

Foster modestly replied

It was a relief when Telford said they would stop talking business and proposed a visit to a bar Foster felt ht a drink would brace him He did not see Telford at dinner and kept out of his way during the afternoon, but the -rooe and furnished with separate tables, but Foster thought he knew the faces of the regular custoer sat at a table by himself

Telford made for this table, which seemed natural, since there was most room there, but a fewhi the floor carelessly, but in such a way that a pillar hid his approach, he sat down near the other two Foster adht not have remarked this had he not been suspicious and keenly watchful The thing looked significant, particularly when a waitress ca, with so his place after he had given his order, because in the small Canadian toaitresses deal firmly with troublesoer and did not speak until the man politely handed him a cruet-stand He did not sayforward, because so curiosity about the fellow, and after supper went to the rotunda where the orous, but walked with a slight limp as if one knee was stiff His eyes were dark and he had a rather engaging smile when one of the rest offered him a newspaper Telford was not about, but the other er He could not reue feeling that he ought to know hi was that he had not expected him to liure After a time, the fellow put down the newspaper and went off towards the bar, while Foster, who found he had run out of tobacco, went to his roooing along a passage in front, which he thought curious, because he could not have stayed more than a few moments in the bar Moreover his liined hi his distance, and knitted his brows in thoughtful surprise when the other opened a door The one into his room

When the door shut he heard another step and saw, as he had half-expected, the e, Foster immediately turned his head and went on to his rooot so of a shock, since he nohy he had studied the felloith the limp His brain had been unconsciously occupied with a description Lucy Stephen had given hione into Telford's room was Walters

XXVII

THE MINE

When Foster was thinking of going to bed Pete, whom he had not seen all day, came into the rotunda, and Foster remarked that his boots were very wet

”It's saft ootside an' I've been paidlin' in the snow,” he said and, with the poacher's instinctive caution, put his feet out of sight beneath a table

”Where have you been in the dark?” Foster asked

”I thought I'd e over yon bit creek”

Foster frowned It looked as if he had not much talent for detective work and could only concentrate upon one point at a ti on at the hotel, Pete had watched the bridge, and had found out so Foster admitted that such success as he had had was rather due to luck than ability

”Well,” he said, ”what did you see there?”

”To begin with, the man we followed cam' doon the street and went into a shop; and I allooed they ht a basket”

”A basket?”

”Just that,” said Pete ”One o' they cheap baskets ye put grosseries in when ye gang by train”

Foster nodded On Canadian railways, econoers often carry provisions instead of using the ht some tinned meat and biscuits,” Pete resumed ”Then some tea and a wee spirit-stove”

”There's no train until to-ine the felloouldn't be satisfied with cannedbetter when the cars stopped”

Pete grinned ”I' heto picnic in the woods”

”Ah!” said Foster abruptly ”I suppose you followed the h to see him tak' the road ent Then I ca”