Mystery and detective stories; Short stories; Single men -- Fiction; Valets -- Fiction
"In Canada!" exclaimed Dockbridge, with a start. "What do you mean? Are
we in Canada?"
"You've been in Canada since three o'clock," was the reply. "We cross
the lower left-hand corner of Alberta--look on the map there in the
folder. After makin' the divide we drop right back into Montana. They
couldn't cross the Rockies at this point without leavin' the States for
a few miles."
The conductor arose and unfolded the map.
"Ye see, here's where we leave Clarke Fork, then we skirt this range,
turn north, followin' that river there, the north branch of the
Flathead, and so over the line; then we turn and jam right through the
range. Two hours from now you'll be back in the old U.S."
Dockbridge had started to his feet and was staring intently at the map.
It was only too true. They were in Canada. _In Canada!_ And they were
holding their prisoner without due process of law! The warrant of the
Governors of New York and Washington were valueless in his Majesty's
Dominion. Did Andrews know? Jack pretended to study the map before him
and glanced furtively across the table. Pat was scowling ferociously at
the cards before him, and Andrews was lighting a cigarette. Apparently
he had heard nothing--or had paid no attention to what the conductor was
saying. With his brain in a whirl Dockbridge folded up the time-table
and handed it back.
"Well, I'm getting ravenous," he remarked.
Just then the porter appeared from the direction of the buffet carrying
their evening meal.
"Same here," echoed Andrews.
For an hour or more they lingered over the table, Andrews seeming in
unusually good spirits. Dockbridge ceased to feel any uneasiness. He
realized how easily he might have been trapped, but no harm was done in
the present instance, for the minute section of Alberta which they
traversed offered no opportunities for the securing of any legal process
by which their prisoner could be released. Again, Andrews had not urged
the route upon them; that had been Peggy's doing. And, moreover, was he
not returning with them of his own free-will? No, it was absurd to have
been so upset at such a trifling matter.
"What do you say to some more whist? You and I'll be partners this time,
Andrews."
The things were cleared from the table and they began again. The speed
of the train seemed to have increased, and the cars swayed from side to
side as they sped down the grade. Peggy raised the shade and looked out.
The pane was plastered with an ever-changing, kaleidoscopic crust of
flakes that spat against it, dropped, clogged against the others, and
sagged downward in a dense mass toward the sash. At the top of the glass
the storm could be seen whirling down its myriads outside.
"What a night!" she ejaculated, as she pulled down the shade.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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