A,V ECCENTRIC CHASE. 249 



I can't stay ; I wish I could. I must see him. What 

 station was he bound for r " I ask. 



" I hardly know. Did Herbs say where he was going r " 

 he inquired of his brother. 



" No, I didn't hear him. You see there's not much to 

 choose as regards distance. Hartlebury's nearer town, 

 but we always put up at Chorlington when we can, and 

 his old mare will be there all night, I expect." 



"Then good-bye — sorry to go and leave you, but I 

 must find him to-night," I said, and turning round 

 started off towards a sign-post I had lately passed 

 pointing to Chorlington. But here, for almost the first 

 time in this eccentric chase, an idea struck me. Hartle- 

 bury was not much farther than Chorlington, and 

 whether Leonard started from there or not, he would be 

 obliged to pass through. It was now 3.30; the train 

 left Chorlington at 4.3 — this I had ascertained. It was 

 eight miles from Chorlington to Hartlebury, and I was 

 about three miles distant from each — in the centre of 

 what was nearly a semi-circle. The best thing to do 

 was clearly to make for Hartlebury, and wait till the 

 train came up, and this I accordingly did, arriving at 

 the latter station soon after 4, whereas the train could 

 not be due till about 4.25. 



I dismounted and sauntered into the station, where 

 I found the amiable official who did duty as station- 

 master. 



" When is the next train for town ? " I asked, almost 

 as a matter of form. 



