Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/103

Rh The girl pushed out into the centre of the walk without answering, and glanced down the narrow way to the inn door.

"Come!" she said. "There is mother waiting for me in the doorway."

"Answer me first—please!"

"No; come with me first!"

"Mother," she said, as they came up together, "Mr. Dunneston has warned you?"

The elder woman laughed easily. "Yes. But, though it is so absurd, Mr. Preston," she said, "I am going to take precautions to-night."

"What are you going to do, mother?" the girl asked.

"I haven't fully decided. But we all have been asked by the management to send our valuables down in lock-boxes to the safe. I think I shall do it."

"Good!" the girl commended. She turned suddenly to Preston. "To make the test strong as you can, Mr. Preston," she nodded, "take—I mean, get the thief to take our 83