e time and then drove away in his
motor. He did not return to the Sherwood Inn but told his chauffeur to
go the nearest way to H----, "and get there as fast as you can without
running into danger."

He soon discovered where Meason and his wife stayed, made inquiries,
Frank Spatts gave him every information.

"He was out till nearly three in the morning," said Spatts.

"The night the Zeppelins were over?"

"Yes; he left the next afternoon," said Spatts.

Valentine Braund also discovered that Meason's car had not taken the
York road but had traveled London way. He followed quickly and arrived
in town not long after Meason. It was Braund who set the police on his
track. He was with them when he found they had allowed him to leave
the Fairfax Hotel. The Inspector told him they had not sufficient
evidence to go upon and were not justified in arresting him.

"You might have stretched a point," grumbled Braund.

"That's all very well. I don't say you're not right, but we have to be
very careful in such cases," said the Inspector.

"You are so careful that you allow fellows in motor cars to scour the
country and pilot these raiders," snapped Braund.

Carl Meason was alarmed. The police had been informed as to his
movements; he had very little doubt about that. He told Jane he must
leave London at once, it was very important; he was going to Margate,
but she must not tell anybody.

She was disappointed. He had promised to take her about London; she
had seen nothing of it.

He answered her sharply. His business was more important than tramping
about London.

What was his business, she asked again, and her constant repetition
irritated him. He gave no satisfactory replies and she resented this.
Jane was sharp, her faculties developed. She was not so simple as he
imagined. He was surprised at her persistence. Was she beginning to
suspect him? If so what did she think?

The journey to Margate by road was interesting. There was not much
conversation. When she spoke he answered in monosyllables. He drove
to the White Hart Hotel facing the harbor and engaged a front room.

"You'll be able to pass the time watching the people," he said, "and
the harbor is always interesting."

"What shall you be doing?" she asked.

"Don't keep cross-examining me," he replied. "It puts me in a bad
temper."

"You are generally in a bad temper," she said.

"Look here, Jane, my girl, we'd better understand each othe