"I don't care where it goes. I don't wish to remain in St. Victor any longer than is absolutely necessary. Besides, if Bowman suspects and follows me he will be likely to think I have gone in a different direction." "I am sorry to have you go, Mr. Fenton." "We shall meet again soon, I hope in New York." Fred reached the inn at nine o'clock, left the amount of his bill in an envelope with the boy Jack, and walked over to the station, where he purchased a ticket for Ottawa. While he was in the depot building Bowman and the landlord drove by. Before they had reached the inn the train came up and Fred entered the rear car. He breathed a sigh of relief as the cars quickened their speed and St. Victor faded in the distance. Meanwhile Bowman and the landlord reached the hotel. Jack, the stable-boy, came forward and took charge of the team. "Here is a letter for you, Mr. Bluff," he said. "A letter!" repeated the landlord, with a look of wonder. He opened it and uttered a cry of surprise. "The boy's gone!" he ejaculated. "What boy?" asked Bowman, not suspecting the truth. "Young Fenton." "Gone away! What do you mean?" "Read that." He passed the note to Bowman, who read as follows: DEAR SIR:--I am called away on business. I enclose the amount due you. If it is not right I will communicate with you as soon as I have reached New York. Remember me to Mr. Bowman. FRED FENTON. "Called away on business!" repeated Bowman suspiciously. "That is queer. What did the boy say?" he asked of Jack. "When did he first speak of going away?" "I think he made up his mind sudden, sir." "Did he say where he was going?" "He said he was goin' back to New York." "Received a summons from his employer, I suppose." "Very likely, sir." "Do you know if he went to see Mr. Sinclair?" "Yes, sir. He went fust part of the evenin'." "Then Sinclair can tell me about it." "Very likely, sir." Not daring to take Jack too deeply into his confidence, Fred had told him that he was going to New York, which was true, or would be very shortly. "If he had waited till to-morrow we might have gone together," thought Bowman, "at least a part of the way. It will be some time before I shall dare to set foot in New York." Bowman went to bed with a vague feeling of uneasiness for which he could not account. He felt that it would be impossible for him to remain in the dull little village any longer. Should he, or should he not, go to see Sinclair before he went away? On the whole he resolved to secure the bonds first, and then decide. The next day after breakfast he strolled down to the lake, got out the boat, and rowed rapidly toward the farther shore. There was no time to waste now. He tied the boat to a sapling growing close to the bank, and struck into the woods.