"Rightly said!" huskily whispered Simpson. "Seek for her--London
ways--I'll find it out soon where she is, and I'm just scholar
enough to write! Give me your own safe London address! I heard ye
would soon take yer long leave. Bless her sweet soul! I'll tell ye
now! She whispered to me: 'Tell him--tell Major Hardwicke--he'll
hear from me himself, even if I was at the very end of the earth!
and give him this!'" The frightened servant thrust a little packet
into the officer's hand. "It was the only chance she had."
"That Swiss woman watched her every moment, and the man--the one
the father sent from Calcutta. There was a telegram to her. I gave
it to her myself! Major, my oath--they're on the blue water, now!
I'll watch and come to you! Don't leave Delhi till I post you!"
"You're a brave fellow, Simpson. Keep this all quiet," softly said
Major Hardwicke. "I'll follow your advice, and I'll not leave here
till I know more from you. I'll follow her to Japan, but I'll see
her again."
"That's the talk, Major!" cried the happy old soldier, who felt
something crisp in his hand now. "Distrust old Hugh! He'll lie to
ye and trap ye! Watch him! He's capable of anything." The carriage
then stopped with a crash and Hardwicke sprang out lightly. "Make
no sign! Trust to me! I'll come to ye!" was Simpson's last word.
Before Simpson had discovered in the marble house the pleasing
figures on a ten-pound note, Harry Hardwicke, striding up and down
his room, in all the ecstasy of a happy lover, had kissed a hundred
times a little silver card case--a mere school girl's poor treasure,
but priceless now--for within it was a hastily severed tress of
gold-brown hair, tied with a bit of blue ribbon.
Pages:
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261