250 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIEID. 



" Next train for town ? 8.48, sir," he rejoined. 



" 8.48 ?" I exclaimed. " Is not there one just due ? It 

 can't have passed r " 



"Ah, sir, that don't stop here now; the 4.2 from 

 Chorlington it was, but it runs through, this month." 



" Are you sure r " I asked desperately, and the station- 

 master smiled. 



"Yes, sir, I'm sure enough. I've been here nigh 

 upon ten years, and I know the run of the trains pretty 

 well. It was took off last month," he rejoined. 



There could be no doubt about it, and there was none. 

 Punctual almost to a moment the train that was " took 

 off" ran through, as I had been assured it would. Did 

 I see Leonard in a carriage as it passed me ? Speed 

 was a little slackened, and a fnan standing up in one of 

 the compartments looked just like the object of my 

 irritating quest. 



" Have you a telegraph office here ? " I asked, for at 

 any rate a telegram would reach him, and luckily there 

 was a chance of sending ; so to his private address and 

 to each of the three clubs he frequented, including, of 

 course, the Smoking Room, I dispatched a message, 

 warning him against the deceptive Muffin Boy, and 

 pointing to King Pippin as a comparatively certain 

 winner. At least I should have shown him that I was 

 not such a fool as I seemed, and he might by skilful 

 manipulation save my money. 



