Part 44 (1/2)
Featherstone welcomed him heartily, but with a touch of eave him her hand There was a curious quiet confidence in her level glance, as if she meant that she had known his promise would be kept He did not rerateful to Lawrence, who laughed
”I i of a surprise, Jake In fact, when the train stopped I pictured you co up the road as fast as you could, divided between anxiety and a deterot your curt telegra as you filled up the form”
”I didn't know Miss Featherstone was here,” Foster replied aardly
”That's obvious,” Lawrence said, chuckling ”Candor's one of your virtues But what about the rest of us?”
Foster wished he had been ht better have been restrained; but Lawrence resu to leave theis that when you set off fro for dollars”
”Mr Foster's tiredness didn't prevent hi for his friends,” Alice interposed
”He must work, anyhow; that's the kind of man he is, and I don't suppose he was ot a strenuous holiday”
Then Featherstone turned to Foster ”I i this,
For all that, there's so to be said, and nohen the others are here, is the proper tiland I was overwhelret I saw, in fact, what a fool I had been” He paused with a gleam of amusement in his enition ofNow I'ize for et all about them if you can”
”They were very natural suspicions, sir I couldn't logically blame you and honestly don't think I did”
”Well,” said Featherstone, ”it's sohter knew you better I'enerous, because there is no amend I can make commensurate with the service you have done us”
”In one sense, it was an excellent joke,” Lawrence re up withaith , which was all he could have got But don't you think, sir, there was soram? I mean the brief statereat that I did not criticize the wording, which I'lanced at his mother ”I expect you reave hi smile
Then Featherstonewith Daly on the train Foster had no wish to harrow the listeners' feelings, but his ely vivid and he pictured the scene with unconscious draround of flitting trees and gli platforure filling, for a ap in the rails Then they felt his thrill of horror when the gap was empty and Pete held up the torn necktie
Foster concluded with Pete's terse statement, ”He just stepped back”
”Into the dark!” said Alice softly and there was silence for the next few moments
”He made us suffer,” Featherstone remarked ”But he had pluck and boldly took the best way It is not for us to judge him now”
Then Lawrence leaned forith a flushed face ”In the beginning, I ht have been better if I had openly paid foryet to be said”
He stopped and looked at the others with badly suppressed emotion
”That I have escaped a fate like Daly's is due to the love and trust that was given me in spite of my offense, and my partner's unselfish loyalty”
Mrs Featherstone looked at hientle approval and her husband said, ”Lawrence has taken a very proper line; but I think this ain”
It was a relief to talk about so else, and by and by the party broke up An hour or two later, Foster, anted to send his fore to the writing-room She stopped him and said, ”I haven't thanked you, Jake; you were careful not to givefear I couldn't get rid of You knohat I mean--Lawrence told me his story Now he is safe”
She stopped Foster, who began to”This is not all I want to say I am not the only person who loves Lawrence and owes you e your claim”
Foster would not pretend he did not understand and looked at her steadily ”If I rounds, I should deserve to have it refused”