Carmen's Messenger

by Harold Bindloss

  XXI

  DALY TAKES ALARM

  When he returned to the hotel Foster signed the visitors' book, whichhe examined. Daly's name was not there, but the last entry recordedthe arrival of Mr. Forbes and two ladies from Edinburgh, and Foster didnot doubt that this was the party he had seen. He next went to thesmoking-room and choosing a quiet corner, lighted a cigarette. Dalywould probably see his name in the book, but this did not matter,because he meant to seek an interview with the man. Foster did notthink he had met Graham, which gave him the advantage of being able tomake a surprise attack, since Daly would not know about the documentshe carried.

  By and by, however, he began to see the matter in a different light.Taking it for granted that Daly meant to leave England, it might bebetter to let him go. Even if he had not killed Fred Hulton, he hadobviously had something to do with the theft of the bonds, and would bemore afraid of detection in Canada, which would make him easier to dealwith. Besides, his knowledge of Lawrence Featherstone's offense wouldbe of less use to him there. If Foster could keep him in sight andsail by the same vessel, he would be able to have the reckoning when heliked after the ship left port.

  On the whole, he thought this the better plan, but resolved to leavethe thing to chance. If Daly met him or saw his name in the book, hewould deal with the fellow then; if not, he would wait until they wereon board ship. When he went in to dinner he chose a place behind apillar, where he was not likely to be noticed, and looked carefullyabout. The room was large and occupied by a number of guests, but byand by he saw Daly at a table near its other end. As he had taken aprominent place, it looked as if he was not afraid of being seen. Hesat facing Foster, but at some distance, with two ladies on theopposite side. They were fashionably dressed and one was older thanthe other, but that was all Foster could distinguish.

  He had no ground for thinking Daly noticed him during the meal, and didnot see the man for an hour afterwards. Then finding that he wanted arailway guide he had left in his room, he went up the stairs and alonga corridor. As he did so, he saw a man and woman some distance infront. The carpet was thick, and it was obvious that the others didnot hear him, because the man put his arm round his companion's waist.So far as Foster could see, the girl yielded willingly to his embrace,and not wishing to overtake them he stopped. Next moment they passed alamp and he noted that the man was Daly, though he was unable todistinguish his companion's face. He, however, thought he would knowher dress again.

  Daly's love affairs had nothing to do with him, but in order to savethe girl embarrassment he waited until they opened a door. Fosterimagined it led to a music or drawing-room, but passed without lookingin, and going up a flight of stairs spent some time in his room,studying the railway guide and a list of steamship sailings. As heentered the corridor on his way back he saw the girl, who was nowalone, in front. He knew her by her dress and did not mean to overtakeher, but after she had gone a few paces she stopped to pick upsomething she had dropped. Since it would look rather marked if hewaited, he went on and was close to her when she heard his steps andglanced round with a start. Then he stopped as he saw she was the girlhe had first met at Hawick. Although he thought she was embarrassed,she met him with a smile.

  "It looks as if you had got tired of Edinburgh," she remarked. "Didyou stay there long?"

  "No," said Foster bluntly. "But I wonder whether you did not know thatI had left?"

  "How could I know?" she asked with a look of surprise that he thoughtwas well done. "Besides, why should I be interested?"

  "You seemed to think it better that I should go away. Anyhow, you gaveme a useful hint, which perhaps warrants my doing as much for you."

  She hesitated, glancing at an open door close by, and then movedtowards it as if she expected him to follow her. Foster did so andfound himself in a small drawing-room, where she sat down on a sofa andwaited for him to speak. Instead he stood opposite, pondering. Thegirl was pretty and fashionably dressed, but he had ground for thinkingsome of her friends or relatives were dangerous criminals. It did not,however, follow that she took part in their plots, and although sheobviously knew something about what was going on, he did not believeshe knew it was connected with the tragedy at Gardner's Crossing. Headmitted that he was perhaps giving way to romantic sentiment, but hewas sorry for the girl and thought her Daly's victim. The fellow washandsome and must have charm, since he had been able to influenceCarmen, who was strong-willed and clever.

  "Well?" she said presently.

  "I saw your name in the book, Miss Huntley, and know whom you camewith. I think you ought to go back to Edinburgh at once and must urgeyou strongly not to go to Canada."

  It was plain that she understood him, for the blood rushed into herface and he saw that she felt some confusion. This seemed to indicatethat she was not a hardened adventuress.

  "To begin with, I am not going to Canada--I did not mean to go," shesaid, and her eyes sparkled as she added: "But you are guilty ofintolerable rudeness. Why do you presume to interfere?"

  "I suppose I am rude; I'm certainly unconventional. But you gave mesome advice in Edinburgh and I was grateful, because I saw you meantwell. Can't you believe that I mean well, too?"

  She gave him a quick, half-puzzled, half-nervous glance, but did notanswer, and he resumed: "Anyhow, you would run a greater risk in Canadathan I did in Edinburgh, and you were rash in coming to Carlisle."

  "But I'm not going to Canada!" she broke out.

  "Don't you believe me?"

  "I suppose I must," said Foster. "But I think you ought to go home."

  She laughed, a rather strained laugh. "You are conventional enough tothink I would be safe there. How do you know what kind of a home Ihave?"

  "I know nothing about it," Foster admitted. "I find you here with adangerous companion and dare say I haven't taken a very tactful line intrying to warn you. That's all."

  There was silence for the next few moments and he felt sympathetic ashe watched her disturbed face. Her anger had vanished and he thoughtshe was grappling with doubt and alarm. In the meantime, he was notfree from embarrassment. It was an awkward business, and he had notmanaged it very well. Then she got up and stood looking at him calmly.

  "You have gone too far, in one sense, but not far enough in another.You must be plainer if you want to justify your conduct."

  "I see that, but am afraid you'll have to take my honesty for granted,because I can't tell you anything more, except that the man you camewith is not to be trusted and may involve you in the difficulties thatthreaten him. You must think of me as a stranger to whom you tried todo a good turn and who has showed his gratitude in a clumsy way."

  "Then there's nothing more to be said; but I suppose I must admit thatyou meant well," she answered, and giving him a level glance moved tothe door.

  Foster held it open and after she had gone went down to thesmoking-room. Perhaps he had been rash, but this did not matter. Onthe whole, he did not think the girl would tell Daly about his warning,and if she did, he probably knew already that Foster was at the hotel.In fact, it was rather significant that they had not met. Still, asshe was not going to Canada, he had not gained much, except perhaps byexciting her suspicions and so preventing Daly's making some use of herin his plots. This, however, was not Foster's object, although heimagined Daly had some practical reason for his philandering. It wasfor the girl's sake he had interfered and her attitude puzzled him.

  She could not have been altogether unsuspecting, or she would havebitterly resented his attack upon her lover, but her blush andconfusion showed she had scruples and was rather the prey of a foolishinfatuation than an accomplice. She knew something, but he felt sureshe did not know in what a serious crime her lover was implicated.Foster, however, would not dwell on this. He hoped she would return toEdinburgh, but if she did not, he had done his best. He must be readyto follow Daly in the morning, and going to another garage hired a carand then warned Pete, whom he had sent to
a different hotel. A fastcar would reach Liverpool in five or six hours.

  There was only one thing that disturbed him; he had not heard from thepolice, but it would be dangerous to disobey an order by telegram,while if Gordon arrived before Daly left, awkward complications mightarise. Foster, however, could do nothing to prevent this and presentlywent to bed.

  Getting up in the dark next morning, he went to the garage. The airwas very raw and a fog hung over the town, but one or two electriclights burned in the gloomy shed, where an attendant was doingsomething. Daly's car stood where Foster had last seen it, but thecover was off the engine and some tools and small springs lay about.As there was no sign of the driver, it did not look as if Daly meant tostart soon.

  "You open early," he said to the attendant. "Nobody seems to be goingaway just yet."

  "I'm here earlier than I need have been," the man grumbled. "By theway the fellow who brought me has left his car, he won't be ready foranother hour."

  Foster, who had learned what he wanted to know, returned to the hoteland his breakfast was served in a comer of the big dining-room. Heimagined that Daly had seen it was a bad morning and had not got up assoon as he meant. The dining-room was cold and only lighted nearFoster's table, which did not look as if anybody else was expected.

  "I dare say you'd sooner have people who get up later," he remarked tothe waiter who brought him another dish.

  "We serve breakfast when it's wanted, sir, if you order it beforehand."

  "I seem to be the only person who has done so this morning."

  "So far as I know, sir," the waiter replied. "But there's another manon early duty."

  Foster thought the other waiter would have turned on more lights if heexpected a customer, and as there was no need for hurry ate a goodmeal. Day was breaking when he finished and word was brought him thathis car was ready. Going to the office, he paid his bill and asked ifa letter or telegram had arrived. There was nothing for him and hewent to a window that commanded a view of the street. His car stoodclose by with Pete inside, but it was some time before Daly's came outof the garage. Knowing that he could reach the door in a few moments,Foster waited until the two ladies who had arrived with Daly went downthe steps alone. He could not understand this, but a waiter came upand said that Miss Huntley would like to see him. When Foster reachedthe pavement the girl had got into the car.

  "I thought you would be glad to know I am going home," she said.

  "Are you going in this car?" Foster asked sharply.

  "As far as Hawick," she answered with a twinkle of amusement. "As I amdoing what you urged, I don't see why you should be surprised."

  "No," said Foster, "of course not! Well, I really think it was auseful hint."

  "Perhaps so. Thank you, and good-by," she said smiling, and signed tothe 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 waspossible that she had meant to retire, so to speak, with colors flyingand not to steal away, but he did not understand her amusement, andfeared a Parthian shot. He must find out why Daly did not want the car.

  Going back 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'clocktrain."

  Foster savagely clenched his fist. He had been cheated; the girl hadwarned Daly, who had suspected some danger. Still, Foster did notthink she had told him all and she had taken his advice; but this didnot matter. Daly had gone and he must get upon his track as soon aspossible. Running down the steps, he jumped into the car and told theman to drive to the station.

  The twelve o'clock train went to London, but there was a connection bywhich one could reach Liverpool at about four in the morning. It wasnow eight o'clock, and Foster walked up and down the platform, growlingat his folly, for a minute or two. Then he ascertained that there wasanother train for Liverpool in half an hour which would arrive at noon,and sending the car away, waited about the office until he could gettickets. After all, he might find Daly before the steamer sailed.