That night men from Watford kept a watch upon the house, but there was
no disturbance. Her watchers had evidently taken the alarm. But it was
in no very certain or very happy state that Doris drove her machine out
of the gate of the Park in the later afternoon of the next day with
her cousin Tom beside her and Wilson and the luggage in the rear seat.
The main road to London was empty of vehicles except for a man on a
motor-cycle just ahead of her bound in the same direction. At least,
she was no longer to be watched. There was plenty of time, so she drove
leisurely, reaching Euston Station with twenty minutes to spare. She
sent a wire to Lady Heathcote and then Tom saw her safely into her
carriage.
The movement of the train soothed her and she closed her eyes and
slept, Wilson like a watchful Gorgon, guarding against intrusion.
There was but one incident which destroyed the peace of the journey.
Toward morning, Wilson, who slept with one eye open, wakened her
suddenly and asked her quietly to look out of the window. Her train had
stopped at a large station, the platform of which was well lighted.
From the darkness of their compartment she followed the direction of
Wilson’s figure. Outside, pacing the platform and smoking cigarettes,
were two men.
“What is it?” asked Doris, half asleep.
“The big one,” whispered Wilson excitedly. “It was him that was ridin’
the motor-cycle.”
Doris remembered passing and repassing the vehicle on the road to
London, and the face of its driver came back to her. She peered out
at him eagerly and as the man turned she saw the face and figure of
the larger man clearly. It was the motor-cycle man, and in a rush the
thought came to her that his figure and bearing were strangely familiar.
“It’s true,” she whispered, her fingers on Wilson’s arm. “We’re
followed. It’s the same man. Last night, too.”
“Last night?”
“Yes. It’s the man called Jim, who searched Mr. Hammersley in the road.”
“No,” said Wilson, her eyes brightening. “You don’t say so, Miss
Mather. Of all the brazen----”
“Sh--” said Doris.
But there was no more sleep for either of them that night. Bolt
upright, side by side, they watched the dawn grow into sunrise and
the sunrise into broad day. They saw no more of the motor-cycle man
and Doris reassured herself that there was nothing to be feared now
that the packet was-- She started in affright. The packet at Betty
Heathcote’s! Perhaps at this very moment lying innocently in Betty’s
post-box or in the careless hands of some stupid Scotch gardener, or
worse yet inviting curiosity on Betty’s desk or library table. Her
heart sank within her as she realized that her brave plans might yet
miscarry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account