d Dick, running wildly backwards
and forwards looking for her, and troubled and ashamed at having lost
her. She wished, though, that he had gone all the way home, for if
they were followed and seen together she would be recognised
instantly, and she would have no power of escape such as Dick had
had.

She took her hat off, and drew her hood over her head, but with Dick
beside her nothing would save her, she knew. So slowly had she come
that darkness was already beginning to fall. Seeing this, she tried
to hurry on more quickly, and once within sight of their own lane
relief gave her strength to run. In the lane the twilight was
deeper, and already Mrs. Perry, growing nervous, had lighted the lamp
in the kitchen. The warm glow streamed out on poor frightened
Huldah, and welcomed her. At the sound of her footsteps the house
door flew open, and Mrs. Perry came out on the step to meet her; but
instead of her usual smile and greeting, Huldah fell exhausted into
her arms and burst into a passion of bitter sobs.

CHAPTER VIII.

TRACKED DOWN.

"I tell you that there's my dog! He was stolen from me, and I'm
going to 'ave the law of whoever's got 'im."

Tom Smith went blustering back into the public-house, almost
speechless with anger. To have been so near Dick and then to have
missed him, was almost more than he could bear. If he had known he
had missed Huldah too, he would have been even more angry.

"You can't have the law of people for taking in a stray," remarked
one man, quietly. They none of them liked Tom Smith, and most of
them wished he would go on his way and leave them to their quiet
gossip.

"Perhaps he ran away," suggested another, drily.

Tom Smith glowered at him sullenly. "What should he run away for?"
he asked, sharply.

"Well, that's more'n I can say," answered the man, calmly.
"It seems to be his way, by the look of him just now. Dogs do it
sometimes, when they think they'd like a change."

"I know he didn't run away; he was stolen, and I'd give five
shillings to know who'd got him, and where he lives."

He did not mean what he said, and he never intended to part with five
shillings, but he did want to find Dick, and he meant to do it, too.
For once he was taken at his word.

"Hand over your five bob. I can tell you where the dog lives."
The voice came from over by the window, and all eyes were turned in
that direction. A young man, a stranger to all there, was standing
le