Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/235

Rh myself two hours later when he was called away? I say, you know, the police were quite stuffy about their information received by the 'wireless' that morning; but you do not mean that Mr. Preston was arrested the forenoon upon that? Why, you didn't tell me so, Mr. Preston!" he rebuked.

"I ought to have told you, I know," the young American agreed guiltily, "particularly before being booked in the same cabin with you, and most particularly," he ran on recklessly, "as I would now be languishing in jail praying for adequate longevity to pay the English people the proper penalty for my twenty-six crimes, if we had not offered a false alibi."

"Mr. Preston!" the girl warned too late. "For—"

"False, Mr. Preston?" the Englishman was repeating in alarm. "I say, you weren't really arrested upon the information received by the 'wireless' and freed by a false alibi?"

"Yes, Mr. Dunneston." The American carried it out now that he had committed himself. 211