“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.  You’re safe as long as you like to stay.”

Craig nodded gratefully.

“All the same,” he said, “I fear that I must go.”

The Professor coughed.

“I am sure, Craig,” he declared, “that you have decided wisely.”

Craig looked gloomily away.

“There is nothing else for me to do,” he said.  “The child must be met and looked after.  Besides, I am sick of it all.  You may as well know the truth.”

“Why not now?” Quest suggested softly.

“In New York,” Craig replied, “and not before.”

Quest and the Professor exchanged meaning glances.

“Very well,” the former decided, turning away, “in a week from to-day, Craig, I shall expect you to report at the Professor’s house.”

They left the room together.  Long Jim lingered by Craig’s side.

“Those guys have been scaring you some, I guess,” he remarked.  “Forget ’em, cookie.  They can’t touch you here.  Of course, if you go to New York it’s your own show.”

“I know that,” Craig replied gloomily.

One of the girls passed her arm through Long Jim’s.

“Just one dance,” she whispered.

He hesitated, looking out of the window.  Then he shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m tired of those guys,” he remarked to Craig with a grin.  “Guess I’ll stay here for a bit.”

Craig was left alone for a few minutes.  Suddenly Marta glided in and sat by his side.  Her eyes were flashing with anger.

“You know what they said, those two, as they passed out?” she whispered hoarsely.  “I heard them.  They are going to board the eight-thirty train to-morrow morning.  The dark man turned and said to the other—­’If he is not on that, we’ll wait till we find him.  Once we get him in New York, he’s our man.’”

A little exclamation of anger broke from Craig’s lips.  The girl caught at his arm.

“Don’t go,” she begged.  “Don’t go.  There are plenty of places near here where you can hide, where we could go together and live quite simply.  I’d work for you.  Take me away from this, somewhere over the hills.  Don’t go to New York.  They are cruel, those men.  They are hunting you—­I can see it in their faces.”