Page:The Mystery of the Blue Train.pdf/237

 He was shy and stammering. The words came haltingly with no eloquence to hack them.

"From the first moment I saw youII ought not to have spoken so soonbut Mr. Van Aldin may leave here any day, and I might not have another chance. I know you can't care for me so soonthat is impossible. I dare say it is presumption anyway on my part. I have private means, but not very muchno, please don't answer now. I know what your answer would be. But in case I went away suddenly I just wanted you to knowthat I care."

She was shakentouched. His manner was so gentle and appealing.

"There's one thing more. I just wanted to say that ifif you are ever in trouble, anything that I can do"

He took her hand in his, held it tightly for a minute, then dropped it and walked rapidly away towards the Casino without looking back.

Katherine sat perfectly still, looking after him. Derek KetteringRichard Knightontwo men so differentso very different. There was something kind about Knighton, kind and trustworthy. As to Derek

Then suddenly Katherine had a very curious sensation. She felt that she was no longer sitting alone on the seat in the Casino gardens, but that some one was standing beside her, and that that some one was the dead woman, Ruth Kettering. She had a further impression that Ruth wantedbadlyto tell her something. The impression was so curious, so vivid, that it