king when he came down the road to the station?"

"Yes, sir. But I was in for time, you see."

"And you did not make it even with that advantage?"

"No, sir."

The second expert had the same story to tell, with a few variations. He
had made one of his runs in five minutes less than the other had done,
but it was by a great exertion that left him completely exhausted when
he arrived at the station. It was during his cross-examination that
Hickory at last came in.

Horace Byrd, who had been growing very impatient during the last few
minutes, happened to be looking at the door when it opened to admit this
late comer. So was Mr. Orcutt. But Byrd did not notice this, or Hickory
either. If they had, perhaps Hickory would have been more careful to
hide his feelings. As it was, he no sooner met his colleague's eye than
he gave a quick, despondent shake of the head in intimation that he had
_failed_.

Mr. Byrd, who had anticipated a different result, was greatly
disappointed. His countenance fell and he cast a glance of compassion
at Miss Dare, now flushing with a secret but slowly growing hope. The
defence, then, was good, and she ran the risk of being interrogated
again. It was a prospect from which Mr. Byrd recoiled.

As soon as Hickory got the chance, he made his way to the side of Byrd.

"No go," was his low but expressive salutation. "One hundred and five
minutes is the shortest time in which I can get over the ground, and
that by a deuced hard scramble of it too."

"But that's five minutes' gain on the experts," Byrd whispered.

"Is it? Hope I could gain something on them, but what's five minutes'
gain in an affair like this? Fifteen is what's wanted."

"I know it."

"And fifteen I cannot make, nor ten either, unless a pair of wings
should be given me to carry me over the river."

"Sure?"

"Sure!"

Here there was some commotion in their vicinity, owing to the withdrawal
of the last witness from the stand. Hickory took advantage of the bustle
to lean over and whisper in Byrd's ear:

"Do you know I think I have been watched to-day. There was a fellow
concealed in Mrs. Clemmens' house, who saw me leave it, and who, I have
no doubt, took express note of the time I started. And there was another
chap hanging round the station at the quarries, whom I am almost sure
had no business there unless it was to see at what moment I arrived. He
came back to Sibley when I did, but he telegraphed first, and it is my
o