Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/200

Rh and tell us about it, Mr. Preston. Good luck, old chap! Really, I say, good luck!" he repeated heartily.

"That was fine of him, wasn't it?" Preston mused as he watched the two drive off in the 'bus. "I believe the fine old sport truly likes me and hopes this can clear me—though he can't honestly see it that way.

"But this is so much finer of you, Miss Varris!" he recollected the girl at his side, guiltily. "After the way you have been standing up for me against everything, I wanted above all to have you there when this thing clears me; but I didn't dare think you would care about coming."

"Yes, you did!" The girl met his eyes just a fraction of a second. But before he could reply, she was leading ahead coolly.

"We're keeping our escort waiting, Mr. Preston," she said. And in another moment the police officer caught step to converse with them cheerily.

The high steel mast, which bore the 178