rence's bag?"

"I left it at a Peebles hotel. I thought if Daly found it was there,
it would give him a place to watch."

Featherstone gloomily made a sign of agreement. "I wish Lawrence would
write to us. We are getting anxious about him and a letter would put
our minds at rest."

XIV

FOSTER SEES A LIGHT

After leaving the Garth, Foster went to Carlisle, where he bought small
articles at different shops and had them sent to his hotel, addressed
to Featherstone. He also asked if any letters for his partner had
come, and then, having done all he could think of to give his pursuers
a hint, waited to see what would happen. He imagined that since Daly
seemed to be well provided with money he would not undertake the search
alone, and there were private inquiry agents who would help him. The
services of these gentlemen would not be cheap, and Foster wondered if
the fellow knew that there was not very much to be extorted from
Featherstone. This, however, was Daly's business, and seeing no result
from his experiment, he resolved to leave Carlisle.

He reached the station undecided where to go. A Midland express would
shortly start for the south, but it would be difficult to leave a clew
in the big manufacturing towns, and there was a stopping train soon
after the other on the North British line, which traverses the Border
hills. Foster preferred this neighborhood, because he was beginning to
know it and it was not far from the Garth, but after a few moments'
consideration went to the Midland ticket window.

A row of passengers were waiting their turn, and as he took his place
in the line a man crossed the floor and stood behind him. There was
nothing suspicious in this, but the fellow had not come in by the
entrance hall, and if he had been in the station, it was strange he had
not got his ticket earlier. When his turn came, Foster asked for a
ticket to Appleby in a husky voice, and when the booking clerk
demanded, "Where?" looked over his shoulder. The man behind was
leaning forward, as if to catch his reply.

"Appleby," said Foster, who had seen by a railway map that the town was
not far off, and getting his ticket, joined the passengers on the
platform. As he did so, the long train came in, but knowing that it
would be a minute or two before the engine was changed he walked up the
platform leisurely, looking into the carriages. There was some bustle,
for people were getting out and in, and he k