artner, I'll open it."

He did so and gave Featherstone the letter, which inquired if they
could supply some lumber the company needed.

"I'm sorry we can't do the work, because we won't be back in time. It
would have been an interesting job to cut the stuff in the way Hulton
wants."

"He seems to leave a good deal to your judgment and to have no doubt
about your sending him the right material."

"I suppose that is so," Foster agreed. "Hulton soon got into the way
of sending for Lawrence when he wanted any lumber that had to be
carefully sawn. In fact, he treats him as a kind of consulting
specialist, and I imagine likes him personally."

He was silent for the next minute or two. Featherstone's remark had
shown him more clearly than he had hitherto realized how high Lawrence
stood in the manufacturer's esteem. No other outsider was treated with
such confidence. Then he told Featherstone about his journey, and the
latter said:

"I have heard nothing from Daly, but soon after you left, a gentleman
from Edinburgh came here to inquire about you."

"Ah!" said Foster, rather sharply. "I suppose he was sent by the
police and imagine I met him at my hotel. His name was Gordon; I
thought it curious that he gave me his card."

"That was the name. He asked if I knew you and I said I did."

"Then it looks as if he meant to test my statements. Did he seem
surprised to learn I was staying here?"

"It was hard to tell what the fellow thought; but somehow I felt that
he expected to find your story true. He, however, gave me no
information. What do you suppose he wants?"

"I can't imagine; the thing's puzzling. What makes it stranger is that
I thought the interest Gordon took in me was, so to speak, benevolent."

"But why should it be benevolent, if he had any ground for suspecting
you?" Featherstone asked.

Foster glanced at him keenly. There was a change in his host's manner,
which had grown less cordial, but he admitted that Featherstone's
confidence was being subjected to some strain. It would certainly be
disturbing to find the police inquiring about him. Lawrence had not
written, and Foster saw that there was much in his statements that
sounded rather lame.

"I don't understand the matter at all; but it might be better if I left
quietly in the morning," he said. "If I don't put Daly on my trail
again, he may come back."

"Very well," said Featherstone, getting up. "But what did you do with
Law