The Pit Prop Syndicate

the cramped and somewhat knobby bed made by the locker, and the smell of oils, had made him restless. But most of all the conversation be had had with Hilliard had banished sleep, and he had lain thi

man had heard the hour chimed by the city clocks, and then at last a delightful drowsiness crept over him, and consciousness had gradually slipped away. But immediately this shuffling had begun, and with a feeling of injury he roused himsel

eerily. "You're awake? Quar

retching himself luxuriously. "I hea

ard l

" he declared. "Tide's running out this ho

eeped out of the port

the side?" he inquired

town. I fancy the water will be more inviting lower down. We coul

r you do, and I shall have a shot at cle

on announced that the engines had been started. This presently subsi

cast off, like

n to the railway bridge into a sheet of blinding light. Only the southern end of the great structure was visible stretching out of the radiance, as well as the houses on the western bank, but these showed out with i

ard remarked. "The bow f

f first the bow and then the stern ropes. Then, steering out towards the middle of t

to the left, and with the fine stone bridge over which they had driven on the previous evening stretching across from bank to bank in front of them. Slipping through o

had a glorious dip-in turn. Then the odor of hot ham mingled in the cabin with those of paraffin and burned petrol, and they ha

y began to feel the effect of the long, slow ocean swell. As soon as he dared Hilliard turned southwards along the coast. This brought the swells abeam, but so large were they in relation to the launch that she hardly rolled, but was ra

ks began to draw together. "There's no sailing chart

tter, and small, blighted-looking shrubs began to appear, all leaning eastwards in witness of the devastating winds which blew in from the sea. Farther on these gave place to stunted tree

Hilliard a little later. "I reckoned it mu

he stream here was narrow, not more than about a hundred yards across, and the tall, straight-stemmed pines grew down to the water's edge on either side. Alrea

bend," he decided, "and lo

nst a rapidly shelving bit of bank, and silently l

g himself. "Here's eight o'clock, and we've been at it since five this

an hour later they were lying on their lockers,

ought of taking my glass and keeping cover myself. After what you said last night you probably won't care to come, and I was going to suggest that if you car

ar from his lips and

n thinking of what you said, and I agree that your view is the right one. I've decided that if you'll have me, I

to his feet and

nt to do too. But I can't pretend my motives are altogether disinteres

t build too

here is always

il the galvanized gable of the Coburns' house came in sight through the trees, went ashore on the opposite bank. The

irds as well as the murmur of the flowing water. Their footsteps fell soft on the carpet of scant grass and decaying pine needles. There seemed a hush over everything, as if they were wandering amid the pillars of some vast cat

tunted shrubs to cluster on the river bank. These appearing to offer good

d, as has already been stated, was in the shape of a D, the river bounding the straight side. About half-way up this straight side was the mill, and about half-way between it and the

stretched himself at ease and laid his glass on the ground be

ss at present," Merriman answered, l

alked towards the shed, to disappear presently behind it. Almost immediately blue smoke began issuing

, and, separating into groups, moved off to the edge of the clearing. Soon work was in full swing. Trees were being cut down by one gang, the branches lopped off fallen trunks by another, while a third was lo

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mill road *

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o view map variable sp

here," Merriman said when they had

spected the place on Sunday. But there can't be anything obviously wrong

Coburn reappeared at his hall door, this time accompanied by his daughter. Both were dressed extraordinarily well for such a backwater of civilization, he with a gray Homburg hat and gloves, she as before in brown, but in a well-cut coat and skirt and a smart toque and motoring veil. Both were carrying dust coats. Mr. Coburn drew the door to

ough his glass, and he now thrust the instru

ur and recognized him instantly. It was the same dark, aquiline-featured man who had stared a

that know you out of the way! We can go down to the place now and ask for Mr. Coburn, and ma

ether and carried it to the river. Then rowing up-stream, they reached the end of the wharf, where a flight of

rows seemed to be pretty much in the same line, but the tops of the raking row were about six feet behind the others, the arrangement, seen from the side, being like a V of which one leg is vertical. These tops were connected by beams, suppor

f narrow gauge railway. These lines were continued to the front of the wharf and there connected up by turn-tables to a cross line, evidently with the idea that a continuou

," Hilliard commented as t

ticed before struck m

also narrow gauge lines were laid which connected with those radiating to the edge of the clearing. Everywhere between the lines were stacks of pit-pr

them. Immediately they advan

re looking for Mr.

illy, "he has gone into Bordeaux. He

I were passing up the river on our launch, and we had hoped to have seen him.

superior type to the others

nning today." He pointed to the door behind him as he spoke,

ng. Outside each road was a saw, its axle running parallel to the roads. The logs were caught in grabs, slung on to the table of the saws and, moving automatically all the time, were cut into lengths of from seven to ten feet. The pieces passed for props were dumped on to a conveyor

e mill proper a spacious garage in which, so they were told, the six lorries belonging to the syndicate were housed. Three machines were there, two lying up empty, the third, with engine running and loaded with blocks, being ready to start. They would have liked to examine the number plate, but

re once more in the boat. "And that foreman's all right too. I'd stake m

And yet, what about the game with the

othing wrong about the timber trade. It's no go, Hilliard.

moodily at his pipe. "We'll watch for another day or s

, though trifling, revived all their suspicions

he launch about five o'clock to call. Reaching the edge of the clearing

ned that the sun was shining directly in her eyes, a

I presume?" she said before Merriman could speak. "

pped forward

. "I had the pleasure of meeting you in May, when you w

d. Her face grew dead white and she put her hand sharply to her side, as though to check the rapid beating of her heart. For a moment

e I remember. Won't you come in?

presented Hilliard her manner had become almost normal. She led the w

orked from England down the coast to Bordeaux, where I joined him, and we hope eve

htful," Miss Coburn

Hilliard interposed. "I have spent two or three holi

doubt, and that something appeared to be not unconnected with himself. But, he reasoned, there was nothing connected with himself that could cause her anxiety, unless it really was that matter of the number plates. He became conscious of an almost overwhelming des

oburn's return. "In here, daddy," his daught

rcepted a glance of what seemed to be warning. His gaze swung round to the new-comer, and here again he noticed a start of surprise and anxiety as Mr. Coburn recognized his visitor. But in this case it was so quickly over that had he not been watching intently he would have m

was not really friendly; in fact, Hilliard seemed to sense a veiled hostility. A few deft questio

t to get from here is the Midi, it enters the Mediterranean not far from Narbonne. But the connection from

a good many of the rivers, or rather I have, and we came up here to see the sand-dun

eed, continuin

up with pot-luck I am sure we should both be glad-" he looked at his daughter"-if you would wait and take some dinner with us now. Tomorrow you could explore the woods, which are really worth seeing though monotonous, and if you are at all

rrupted a second rapid look between father and daughter. He could not be s

and particularly so few English, that it would be doing us a kindness. I'm afr

istening to. He and Hilliard talked, while Merriman, who was something of a musician, tried over songs with Miss Coburn. Had it not bee

following day, lunch with the Coburns, and go for a tramp through the forest

d you notice how your sudden appearance upset them both? There can be no further dou

at all events," Merri

et Miss Coburn I can see that your estimate of her was correct. But anyone with half an eye could see also

dden wave of unreasoning rage. "There's nothing wrong and no n

ed under cove

rsion with the Coburns to-mo

asonably sane again. Here," he went on fiercely as the other demurred, "I'll tell you what I'll do if you like. I'll have no more suspicions or s

ied that once already. Why did you not persist in your inquiries abo

t for a few moment

all, man, what

had occurred to Hilliard

l tell you what we must do. We must see their steamer loaded. I've been thinking

ly, but Hilliard, realizing

egan himself to realize his condition, and to understand that his whole f