Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/147

Rh "I don't know which one, but he is the father of Hannah Nott." "What do you know about Hannah?" demanded the man tartly.

As Robert gazed at him he could see that his face appeared to be strangely familiar. He must have seen or met him somewhere, he was convinced; but though he endeavored to recall some former meeting, he was unable to decide when or where it had occurred. He was somewhat chagrined, too, that he had mentioned Hannah's name, but it had escaped his lips almost before he was aware of it, in his eagerness to describe the man for whom he was searching. "I don't know that I am called upon to explain that," he replied, somewhat warmly. "And if you can direct me to this Mr. Nott I shall be under obligations to you."

"Who are you?"

"I'm not called upon to explain that either. I want to find Mr. Nott, but if you don't want to tell me I can find some one who will."

"My name is Nott," said the young soldier.

"It is? Are you one of his boys?"

"You are a brilliant man," laughed the other. "If my name is Nott, what did you suppose my father's name would be?"