Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/45

 broken at last by the almost apologetic tones of the father. "How will you reach South Ashfield?" he asked.

"Oh, Sam must drive me over with the mare. I will start him up now."

As his son leaves the room Cyrus Felton sinks into an easy chair and his head drops upon his bosom. Who can tell the thoughts that surge through his troubled mind at the moment? The clatter of hoofs on the concrete driveway beside the window arouses him from his reverie, and a moment later Ralph Felton enters, a satchel in his hand.

"Well, father, Sam is ready and I must go. We shall have little more than an hour to make the ten miles and catch the express. Good-by; it is all right, sir; believe me, father," the younger man drops his disengaged hand not unkindly on the other's shoulder, "my sudden departure will do nobody here any harm, and least of all will it affect you. One thing I will say; I will find the scoundrel who took Helen Hathaway from Raymond, if he is above ground, and when we meet he will have occasion to remember that time." Ralph Felton's face is darkened by a savage scowl as he speaks, and he raises a clenched fist with a gesture so suggestive that his father involuntarily steps back. "Yes, I have two objects in cutting the town. One reason you know, the other is to seek and find the hound who has stolen Helen Hathaway from me. I cared for her as I shall never love another woman, and I meant to have her. Now"

The musical chime of the clock begins to strike the hour. Ralph Felton seizes the package of bills that lies upon the table and places it in an inner pocket.

"I will return sometime, father, when this bank affair has ceased to be a subject of investigation," he says, with his hand on the door-knob. "Good-by. Just keep a stiff upper lip and you'll be all right. I'm off."

The outer door closes with a sharp click and a moment later the impatient stamping of hoofs is succeeded by the even footfalls of the fastest mare in Mansfield County.

As the sound grows fainter and fainter Cyrus Felton suddenly starts as if aroused from a stupor.