The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-14
CHAPTER XIII.
Continued.

to be certain of that? You are not
so very straightforward that 1 should
take your word for that. We sink or
swim together, my young friend,
mind that. 1t is very we'll for you
to have a certain income safely in
vested in this country to be drawn
upon at your convenience; but what's
to become of me in the meantime.
while our schemes are ripening?
While the grass grows the steed
starves; and I an not the sort of an
imal that takes to starving kindly"
II have money enough for both Of
US for a month or two said Adair,
with a flush on his face.
"Oh, you have, have you?" sneered
the other. lin spite of its being so
deuced difficult to raise a few
pounds? Well, if I don't see my way
to a thousand pound down, I don't
start tonight, Mr.. Adair."
"A thousand pounds. 1 wouldn't
give you a thousand pence to save
your neck from the h%angman."
It was not a pleasant observation
for one gentleman to make to anoth-
er supposed to be in his confidence;
moreover, it vas accompanied by a
tone and manner so obviously genu-
inc that to explain it away in any
parliamentary sense was out of the
question.
For an instant a very ugly look
indeed crossed Mr.. Dawson'S face,
which, when the coarse bonhomie
was out of it, was always far from
progressing, but the next moment
he burst out laughing.
Upon my life, Adair," he said,
'for a keen, clever fellow, I never
saw n so slow to take a joke as
you are. You need hardly have
flown out so, even if an old pal like
me had asked for the money in earn
est, whereas I asked you for nothing
of the kind. 1 said I should like to
see it; since without the sinews of
war it would be useless to begin our
campaign at all. and we might just
as we'll stop where we are and take
our chances"
For an instant Adair seemed to
hesitate, then he threw open his coat
and pulled out his bundle of bank
notes.
There is a thousand pounds
there, and more" he exclaimed, sui
lenly. Now, look here, I'm safe till
tomorrow; but don't let's have any
more cursed nonsense about not go
ing tonight"
Certainly not" returned the 9TH
er, quietly; "only there's nothing
like being frank and above board
with friends"
If this moral axiom was meant
as an encouragement for his compan-
ion to go into figures, it failed of its
intent, for Adair rolled up the notes
again and placed them in his breast
pocket.
"At midnight, then, at Miller street
stairs, the boat will be waiting"
LAS sure as death, or at least,
clockwork." was the dry rejoinder.
GAS you don't go home, it seems,
why shouldn't we pass the time to-
gether?"
mo, I have something to do" said
Adair, taking up his hat.
We'll, don't be late; but on the
other hand, it won't do to be much
too early. To be hanging about the
stairs before the boat arrives will ex-
cite suspicion" With that curt, side
long nod which is the sign of adieu
between familiars who are not
friends, the two parted. Hardly had
the door closed behind Adair when
Dawson stamped twice upon the floor
a signal which was promptly n
swered by the younger Of the two
men who had been passengers in the
train with Robert Aldred.
Quick, follow that fellow and tell
me where he goes" Within five
minutes the emissary returned with
a long face.
Fool! He has given you the
slip?"
1T is not that; there's some one
after him already" ..
Ten thousand devils! Not one of
our people, s~urely?"
NO such luck, it's a detective.
I've seen his face in Scotland Yard,
and, what's more to the purpose, he's
seen mine"
You white livered hound! No
matter, that will do"
Left to himself, Dawson fell to
musing. Hes safe for tonight, is
he? That means that they are con-
niving at his flight; for madam's
sake they will not arrest him. A
Virtuous woman is a crown to her
husband. A thousand pounds? He
had five thousand pounds about him
If he had a penny. l caught the fig
ure on the outside note; they were
hundred FOUNDERS
1t was not easy to find a cab in
those regions, but when he had done
SO Adair drove to a hotel in Covent
Garden-the same he had put up at
when he had come up from Cam
bridge to make that little investiga-
tion at st. Anne's-and secured a
private sitting room. A bedroom he
did not need, and to sit in the coffee
room among strangers would have
been intolerable. He had in reality
nothing to do, for his arrangements
for departure were complete; but a
sense of danger-marvelously in
creased by the little fortune he car
ried with him-warned him to lie
close. as it had disinclined him for
his late companions society. The