ot very approachable,
and Hilliard felt sure the subject would not be broached to him. In the
evening they would go down to Hull.

This program they would have carried out, but for an unforeseen event.
While Hilliard was visiting his office Merriman took the opportunity to
call at his, and there learned that Edwards, his partner, had been taken
ill the morning before. It appeared there was nothing seriously wrong,
and Edwards expected to be back at work in three or four days, but until
his return Merriman was required, and he had reluctantly to telephone
the news to Hilliard. But no part of their combined holiday was lost.
Hilliard by a stroke of unexpected good fortune was able to spend
the same time at work, and postpone the remainder of his leave until
Merriman was free. Thus it came to pass that it was not until six days
later than they had intended that the two friends packed their bags for
Hull.

They left King's Cross by the 5.40 p.m. train, reaching their
destination a little before eleven. There they took rooms at the George,
a quiet hotel in Baker Street, close to the Paragon Station.

CHAPTER 7. THE FERRIBY DEPOT

The two friends, eager and excited by their adventure, were early astir
next morning, and after breakfast Hilliard went out and bought the best
map of the city and district he could find.

"Why, Ferriby's not in the town at all," he exclaimed after he had
studied it for some moments. "It's up the river--must be seven or
eight miles up by the look of it; the North-Eastern runs through it and
there's a station. We'd better go out there and prospect."

Merriman agreed, they called for a timetable, found there was a train at
10.35, and going down to Paragon Station, got on board.

After clearing the suburbs the line came down close to the river, and
the two friends kept a good look-out for the depot. About four and a
half miles out they stopped at a station called Hassle, then a couple of
miles farther their perseverance was rewarded and they saw a small pier
and shed, the latter bearing in large letters on its roof the name of
the syndicate. Another mile and a half brought them to Ferriby, where
they alighted.

"Now what about walking back to Hassle," Hilliard suggested, "and seeing
what we can see?"

They followed the station approach road inland until they reached the
main thoroughfare, along which they turned eastwards in the direction of
Hull. In a few minutes they came in sight of