"Don't you look so scared. This is
just a bit of parley-vous business, that's all."
The Professor held out a piece of paper. He handed it over to Craig.
"Craig," he announced, "this is a dispatch which I found in Allguez with
my letters. It is addressed to you, but under the circumstances you will
scarcely wonder that I opened it. You had better read it."
Craig accepted the cable-form and read it through slowly to himself:--
"To John Craig, c/o Professor Lord Ashleigh, Yonkers, New York:
"Your sister died to-day. Her daughter Mary sails on Tuesday to
join you in New York. Please meet her.
"COMPTON, Solicitor, London."
Craig sat for a moment as though stunned. The girl leaned over towards
him.
"Are they trying to take you on a warrant?" she whispered. "Remember you
don't need to go unless you want to."
Craig shook his head.
"This is something quite different," he explained. "Leave me for a moment,
Marta. I must talk to these people."
She slipped regretfully away from his side and out into the darkness. He
sat with his eyes fixed upon the cablegram. Then he turned towards Quest.
"Fate seems to be too strong for me," he admitted. "Leave me alone and I
promise you that I'll go at once to New York, settle Mary's future, and
then make a full disclosure."
Jim touched him on the shoulder.
"Remember," he told him, "you ain't no call to leave here unless you want
to. Those deputies don't go this side of the border.
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