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No such chance came, however, and sadly enough the two boys, for Joe was also in the look-out, watched the passage of the last of Dale's men across the stream, half a mile below. "Mas' Tom," said Joe, "dem folks gwine right straight to de fort." "Yes, of course," said Tom. "What of it?" "Nothin', only I wish I could go wid 'em, and tell 'em Mas' Sam's here sick."
"Just what happened to Gary Miller an' his two friends has bothered me a heap," went on Dale. "They was to come this way, to help me in this deal. But they never showed up." Sanderson smiled, and Dale's eyes gleamed. "You know what's become of him!" he charged. "That's where you got that thousand you give to Mary Bransford an' the papers, showin' that young Bransford was due here. Ain't it?"
It meant constant surveillance by the police that would hamper him, rob him of his freedom of movement, adding difficulties and perils innumerable to the enacting of this new dual personality of his. Jimmie Dale's hands clenched more fiercely. It was an impossible situation it was untenable.
Station after station was passed. Jimmie Dale's hand, resting on the window sill, was so tightly clenched that it seemed the skin must crack across the knuckles. But he was smiling when he left the subway only it was that same merciless smile once more. It was not alone the mere act of robbery that fanned his anger to a white heat.
The Wolf had seen the psychological and profitable moment to strike again that was all! And again it was diabolical but again it was the Wolf! Jimmie Dale's face was set like flint. And this was the man who had sworn that he would "get" the Gray Seal! A sort of unholy, passionate joy surged upon him. Well, they would see, he and the Wolf and perhaps to-night!
One of Jimmie Dale's shoulders was hunched forward, giving a crude and ill-fitting set to his fashionably tailored, Fifth Avenue coat; he staggered slightly, and the flap of his collar protruded, while his tie, pulled out, sprawled over his vest; also his slouch hat, badly crushed and looking as though it had rolled in the mire of the street, was tilted forward at an unhappy angle until it was balanced on the bridge of his nose.
In that time she recovered fully, and when he reached her, to put a sudden halt upon the fiery Ranger, she caught the bridle he threw and swiftly mounted her horse. The feel of the saddle seemed different. Dale's piercing gray glance thrilled her strangely. "You're white. Are you hurt?" he said. "No. I was scared." "But he threw you?" "Yes, he certainly threw me." "What happened?"
The Gray Seal! Jimmie Dale's hands, whose delicate fingers were artfully grimed and blackened now beneath the nails, clenched still tighter and then, with a quick shrug of his shoulders, a thinning of the firmly compressed lips, he picked up the coat from where it lay upon the floor, put it on, put the money that was on the table in his pocket, and replaced the box under the flooring.
"Benson," he said crisply, "I am going downtown again later on, but I shall drive myself. Bring the touring car around and leave it in front of the house. I'll run it into the garage when I get back you need not wait up." "Very good, sir," said Benson. In the hallway, Jason, the butler, who had been butler to Jimmie Dale's father before him, took Jimmie Dale's hat and coat.
I know what they're like. I had one once for a school-teacher. I can feel her lickings yet. She was the contrariest female I ever met. Shucks, I Well, if I gotta, I gotta. Might's well get it over with now as later. Thanks, ma'am, for helping me out." Racey Dawson shambled dejectedly forth to effect the feeding of Miss Molly Dale's horse at the hotel corral.
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