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His sharp, clear eyes included the vehicle and the stenographer, and he lifted his helmet, then looked squarely at me. "My name is Gilland," I said, dropping my voice and stepping nearer. "I have just come from Bronx Park, New York." He bowed, waiting for something more from me; so I presented my credentials. His formal manner changed at once.
He came to see me at the Holland House that same evening; I told him as much as I ever shall tell anybody. That is all, Mr. Gilland." For a long time I sat silent, musing over the strange words.
"Exactly; so when I've trapped it I am going to spray it." He turned half humorously towards the stenographer: "I fancy you understood long before Mr. Gilland did." "I don't think so," she said, with a sidelong lifting of the heavy lashes; and I caught the color of her eyes for a second. "You see how Miss Barrison spares your feelings," observed Professor Farrago, dryly.
Miss Barrison had seated herself on the leaves; I stood back as the professor sat down beside her; then, at a gesture from him, took the place he indicated on his left. "Before we begin," he said, calmly, "there are several things you ought to know and which I have not yet told you. The first concerns the feminine wearing apparel which Mr. Gilland brought me."
The train lay at the station, oceans of heavy, black smoke lazily flowing from the locomotive; negroes were hoisting empty fruit-crates aboard the baggage-car, through the door of which I caught a glimpse of my steel cage and remaining paraphernalia, all securely crated. "Telegram hyah foh Mistuh Gilland," remarked the operator, lounging at his window as we descended from our dusty vehicle.
"But you did engage me, didn't you?" "I believe that I did er oh, of course " "But a verbal contract is binding between honorable people, isn't it, Mr. Gilland?" "Yes, but " "And ours was a verbal contract; and in consideration you paid me my first week's salary, and I bought shirt-waists and a short skirt and three changes of and tooth-brushes and " "I know, I know," I groaned.
It's a clear case of fright," he said, gravely. "I wanted a dog to aid me in trailing these remarkable creatures, but I think this dog of yours is useless, Gilland." "It's given us warning of the creatures' presence twice already," I argued. "Poor little thing," said Miss Barrison, softly; "I don't know why, but I love that dog.... He has eyes like yours, Mr. Gilland "
"Please get me my ticket, Mr. Gilland." She gazed at me from the car-platform; the locomotive tooted two drawling toots. "It is for your sake," I said, avoiding her gaze as the far-off whistle of the north-bound express came floating out of the blue distance.
"Well, I'll tell you, then. You are going into the devil's own country to look for something that I fled five hundred miles to avoid." "Is that so?" I said, uneasily. "That is so, Mr. Gilland." "Oh! And what is this object that I am to look for and from which you fled five hundred miles?" "I don't know." "You don't know what you ran away from?" "No, sir.
I agree with you. Nobody fears what anybody can see." There came the slightest movement beside me. "Are you trembling?" I asked, turning. "I was writing," she replied, steadily. "Did my elbow touch you?" "By-the-way," said Professor Farrago, "I fear I forgot to congratulate you upon your choice of a stenographer, Mr. Gilland." A rosy light stole over her pale face.
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