The Black Box Part 63

As they talked they heard the coyotes barking in the distance. Presently Laura and the Inspector returned.

"Nice sort of nurse I am," the former grumbled. "It's all the fault of this man. He would keep me out there talking rubbish."

"We were watching you, dear," Lenora said quietly. "Somehow it didn't seem to us that you were particularly anxious to get away."

The Inspector chuckled.

"That's one for Miss Laura," he declared, with an air of satisfaction.

"Little bit hard on me generally."

"Oh! I'm all right if I'm left alone," Laura retorted, bustling around.

"Come along, you folks, if we are going to have any supper to-night."

They sat round the opening before Lenora's tent till the moon was high in the heavens. Quest, who had been on the outside of the circle for some little time, suddenly rose to his feet and crossed over to the cook wagon.

Long Jim, who was sitting on the steps, glanced up a little surlily.

"Who's inside there?" Quest asked.

Long Jim removed his pipe from his teeth.

"That don't sound none too civil a question for a guest," he remarked, "but if you want to know, our new Chinese cookie is there."

Quest nodded.

"Sorry if I seemed abrupt," he apologised. "You've been very good to us and I'm sure we are uncommonly obliged to you, Jim. The only reason I asked the question was that I saw a face in the door there and it gave me a start. For a moment I thought it was Craig back again."

"He's gone to New York, or going to-morrow morning," Jim replied. "I don't think he's so powerful fond of your company that he'd come round here looking for it."

Quest strolled off again and glanced at his watch as he rejoined the little group.

"Well," he said, "I think we'll turn in. Seven o'clock to-morrow morning, Inspector. Jim's sending one of the boys with us and we shall catch the Eastern Limited at the junction."

The Inspector yawned.

"This open-air life makes me sleepy," he confessed.

"To bed, all of us," Quest concluded, turning away.

3.

Quest awoke the next morning, stretched out his hand and glanced at the watch by the side of his bed. It was barely six o'clock. He turned over and dozed again, looked again at half-past six, and finally, at a few minutes to seven, rose and made a hasty toilet. Then, in the act of placing his watch in his waistcoat pocket, he gave a sudden start. By its side, half covered by the handkerchief which he had thrown upon the little table, stood a small black box! For a moment he was motionless. Then he stretched out his hand, removed the lid and drew out the usual neatly folded piece of paper:--

"Even time fights you. It loses that you may lose.

"THE HANDS."

Quest for a moment was puzzled. Then he hurried into the next tent, where the Professor was sleeping peacefully.

"Say, Professor, what's the time by your watch?" Quest asked, shaking him gently.

The Professor sat up and drew his chronometer from under his pillow.

"Seven o'clock," he replied, "five minutes past, maybe."

Quest nodded.

"That seems all right," he declared. "I'll explain later, Professor."

He hurried out into French's tent and found the Inspector just drawing on his shoes.

"French, what's the time?" he demanded.

"Three minutes past seven, or thereabouts," French replied, yawning. "I'm coming right along. We've lots of time. Three-quarters of an hour ought to do it, the boys say."

Quest held out a strip of paper.

"This gave me a turn," he said quietly. "I found it in a black box by the side of my bed."

French gazed at it in a puzzled manner. They walked outside to the camp, where the cowboys were finis.h.i.+ng their breakfast.

"Say, boss," one of them called out, "you're not making that eight-thirty train to New York?"

"Why not?" Quest asked quickly. "It's only three quarters of an hour's ride, is it?"

"Maybe not," the other replied, "but as it's eight now, your chances ain't looking lively. Kind of overslept, haven't you?"

Both men glanced once more at their watches. Then Quest thrust his back with a little oath.

"Our watches have been set back!" he exclaimed. "The Hands again!"

For a moment they looked at one another, dumbfounded. Then Quest moved towards the corral.

"Say, is there any quicker way to the depot?" he enquired of the cowboys.

They heard his question indifferently.

"Fifty dollars," Quest continued, "to any one who can take me by a quicker route."

One of them rose slowly to his feet.

"Waal," he observed, "fifty dollars would come in kind of handy. Yes, I reckon I can cut off a mile or two for you."

"Fifty dollars for you, then," Quest replied, as they hurried towards the horses, "and an extra ten if we make the train."

They galloped off into the distance. The cowboys finished their breakfast and went off to their work. Laura stole out from her tent and started off in rather a shame-faced manner for a ride. Presently Lenora opened her eyes. She, too, stretched out her hand for her watch. Suddenly she sat up in bed with a little exclamation. On the table by her side was a small black box. She took off the lid with trembling fingers, drew out a sc.r.a.p of paper and read:--

"Fools! Tongues of flame will cross Quest's path. He will never reach the depot alive."