ground. Instinctively he snatched up his coat and put it on while a variety of lies raced through his mind.
But whatever the situation, it would be improved if she were awake. He dropped on his knees beside her, took his handkerchief off her forehead, and spoke with anxious tenseness.
“Miss Carr, wake up! Wake up! You are all right now.”
As she did not stir he shook her lightly, but it had no effect upon her. As he thought it strange she should be so sound asleep he heard the front door close again. But whether the person who had closed it was in or out he did not know. He stepped cautiously to the back door. If there was anyone there who might come through there was only one thing for him to do, go in at once and find out what manner of man he had to deal with.
Then he heard a very comforting sound, that of steps retreating along the path. After a minute or two of reassuring silence in the building he stepped inside and walked quickly to the office. There was no one there. He hurried to the front door and saw the figure of a man in the moonlight going off towards the town. He could not make out who he was. There was no one else about. He had been in tight places in his life, but never had he felt more relieved. He turned the key in the lock, put out the light, leaving the office in darkness, shut the composing-room door, drew the blinds of the side windows, and went back to wake Valerie.
He wished himself out of this now, and reflected sadly what an everlasting fool he was with his lack of suspicion. He ought to have remembered the office was a public place. Still at that hour who would have expected anyone to have business with the paper? He leaned quickly down over Valerie and spoke her name. Then for the first time he
