"Why so? Explain. Surely Miss Guir is a very charming young lady."
"I reckon she be, boss; dough for my part I ain't nebber seed her.
Folks says as how it ain't good luck when she trabels on de road."
"What do you mean? Are any of her people accused of crime?"
"Not as ever I heerd on, sir."
"Then explain yourself. Speak!"
But not another word was to be gotten out of the man. He was like one
grown suddenly dumb, save for the power of an occasional shout to his
horses. A mile beyond this the driver drew up his team, and turning
abruptly, said: "You see dat paf?"
After peering doubtfully through the moonlight into the black shadows
beyond, Paul thought he discerned the outline of a narrow wood road,
and placing a tip in the man's hand, picked up his satchel and
climbed down to the ground.
"Tank 'ee, sir, and de Lawd take keer o' you when you gets to de
Guirs'," called the driver, as he cracked his whip and drove away,
leaving Mr. Henley standing by the roadside listening to the
retreating wheels of the coach. The forest was dense, and the
moonlight, struggling through the tree-tops, fell upon the ground in
patches, adding to the obscurity. Henley seated himself upon a fallen
tree, to await the arrival of the cart. Although quite as courageous
as the average of men, he could not help a slight feeling of
apprehension concerning the outcome of his enterprise. Of course, he
knew nothing about these people; but the girl was prepossessing and
refined to an unusual degree. It seemed impossible that she could be
acting as a decoy for unworthy ends. He laughed at the thought, and
at the fun he would some day have in recounting his fears to her, and
at her imaginary explanation of the driver's silly talk. At the same
time he examined his revolver, which he kept well concealed, despite
the law, in the depths of a convenient pocket.
When twenty minutes had passed, he began to grow impatient for the
girl's arrival, and, when half an hour was up, started down the road
to meet her. Scarcely had he done so when the sound of approaching
wheels greeted his ears, and directly after Miss Guir was in full
view.
"I hope you have been successful," Paul asked as she drew up beside
him.
"Quite," answered the girl; "indeed, they put in a new spring for me;
and we can now drive home without fear."