be
satisfied with one of the private detective agencies to begin with,
while the man he's looking for will be on his guard against the police.
Besides, it's possible that the fellow won't take many precautions,
since there's a plausible explanation of Fred Hulton's death."

"Do you think the man you passed saw you well enough to know you again?"

"He may have done so."

"Then if he imagined that you saw him, it would make a difference,"
Foster said thoughtfully, "He'd reckon that you were the greatest
danger he had to guard against."

Featherstone stopped and caught his comrade's arm as the yard
locomotive pushed some cars along the track they were about to cross,
and the harsh tolling of the bell made talking difficult. When the
cars had passed they let the matter drop and went back to the hotel
where they had left their automobile.

III

FOSTER MAKES A PROMISE

There was been frost next evening and Foster drove to the Crossing
without his comrade, who thought it wiser to stay at home. The reunion
he was going to attend was held annually by one or two mutual-improvement
societies that combined to open their winter sessions. It had originally
begun with a lecture on art or philosophy, but had degenerated into a
supper and dance. Supper came early, because in Canada the meal is
generally served about six o'clock.

The wooden hall was decorated with flags and cedar boughs, and well
filled with young men and women, besides a number of older citizens. The
floor and music were good, and Foster enjoyed two dances before he met
Carmen Austin. He had not sought her out, because she was surrounded by
others, and he knew that if she wanted to dance with him she would let
him know. It was generally wise to wait Carmen's pleasure.

When he left his last partner he stood in a quiet nook, looking about the
hall. The girls were pretty and tastefully dressed, though generally
paler than the young Englishwomen he remembered. The men were athletic,
and their well-cut clothes, which fitted somewhat tightly, showed their
finely developed but rather lean figures. They had a virile, decided
look, and an ease of manner that indicated perfect self-confidence.
Indeed, some were marked by an air of smartness that was half aggressive.
A large number were employed at the Hulton factory, but there were
brown-faced farmers and miners from the bush, as well as storekeepers
from the town.

On the whole, their dress, manners