Part 41 (2/2)

It was nearly dark and very cold, but Foster was glad the train was late By and by he got up and lighted his pipe, though he was careful how he held thenear, he did not want the fellow to see his face, but the latter would not expect anybody whocarelessly round to the front of the shack, Foster opened the door and asked the agent: ”Are you going to stop the east-bound?”

”I am,” said the other ”Got a wire to hold her up”

”Ah,” said Foster ”I expect we can get tickets on board, but if you don'tpretty fierce”

He ira the pines and the huraph wires, but for a ti cauish the snorting of a locoan to toll, and with lights flashi+ng the cars rolled past the shack Foster waited aat the , and then as the conductor called ”All aboard”

saw athe line and ju Pete, he dashed out and got on board as the train began to move

It ith a thrill of triuathered speed They would not stop for so chase was ended; he had run Daly down

xxxI

DALY SOLVES THE PUZZLE

The train was speeding along the hillside when Foster took Pete with hi cars As he crossed the platforms between them he met an icy wind and saw the dark pines stream by It was obvious that the track was nearly level and the train running fast, for dusky woods and snowy banks flung back a rapid snorting and a confused roll of wheels There were not ers and nobody seemed to notice Foster, until as they entered a car near the end aso that it hid his face As they left the car Foster thought he heard a rustle, as if the paper had been lowered, but did not look round The thingand he did not want to hint that he was suspicious

He felt anxious but cool Daly was the cleverer aht he had the better cards

The last car was e Pete there, he went through to the s compartment at its end It had only one occupant, who looked up as he caaze

The fellow had his hand in his pocket and his face was rather hard, but he did not show surprise or alar for one another for a long time and at last have an, you were looking for s have, so to speak, been reversed I've followed you across England and much of Canada”

”I've wondered what accounted for your boldness”

”It looked as if you knew, but if you don't, I' to tell you,”

Foster replied ”But I'd sooner you took your hand out of your pocket

It would be dangerous to use a pistol, because my man's in the car

Then I left a plain statement of all I know and surmise about you, with instructions for it to be handed to the police if I don't coarette ”You're not such a fool as soht, I suspected this for soet to business,” Foster rejoined ”I want to get it finished, although I don't think we'll be disturbed”

Daly gave hilance, which Foster did not understand then, and the latter resuh about Featherstone to enable you to blackmail him?”

”I was secretary to the man he robbed; as a matter of fact, I stole one or two of his private papers I don't know that I meant to use them then, but was afterwards in need of ot

The docuan by extorting money, but your last object was to suppress the evidence ive about the cause of Fred Hulton's death”

”Ah!” said Daly ”I wonder how much you or Featherstone know about that As there are no listeners, we can be frank”