Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/195

Rh The Englishman looked at the American critically.

"Not all of the officers have gone down to the station, Mr. Preston," he said. "Our friend of the Grand Hotel, who has been riding in the compartment just ahead of us, seems to be waiting about a bit."

"I see! The officer who has been shadowing me!"

The American gathered up his things experimentally and moved towards the hotel 'bus with the others. The officer immediately followed along behind.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Varris," young Preston stopped the others. "Of course I meant to go up with you and see you settled before doing anything else. But I hate to parade 'old faithful' here through the town after me. I clearly have re-established myself as a perpetual object of English suspicion. So you will excuse me to satisfy this man and clear myself before coming up with you?"

"I am sorry, sir," the man came forward 173