Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/270

260 platform, and presently, just afore it started, I saw the other cove and a young lady wearing a heavy veil come quickly along. The first man saw them, and gave a little cry of delight. 'I thought you'd be too late,' says he. 'No fear of that,' says the other, and jumps into a first-class carriage, telling the girl to get in after him, which she does, crying the while as I could see. Then the chap on the platform says to the other who was leaning out of the window, 'Write to me from Bourke, and tell me how she gets on.' 'You bet,' says his friend. 'And don't you forget to keep your eye on Hatteras.' 'Don't you be afraid,' answered the man on the platform. Then the guard whistled, and the train went out of the station. Directly I was able to I got away, and first thing this morning came on here. Now you know my information, I'll trouble you for that fifty pound."

"Not so fast, my friend. Your story seems very good, but I want to ask a few questions first. Had the bigger man the man who went up to Bourke, a big cut over his left eye?"

"Now I come to think of it, he had. I'd forgotten to tell you that."

"So it was him, then? But are you certain it was Miss Wetherell? Remember she wore a veil. Could you see whether her hair was black or brown?"

"Very dark it was; but I couldn't see rightly which colour it was."

"You're sure it was a dark colour?"

"Quite sure. I could swear to it in a court of law if you wanted me to."

"That's all right then. Because it shows me your story is a fabrication. Come, get out of this house or I'll throw you out. You scoundrel, for two pins I'd