Jack Haydons Quest | Page 7

at that hotel, if Risley expected him back, then he
meant to come back. And if he didn't get back, it was because he was
interfered with. I'd stake a hand on that."
Jack nodded with glistening eyes. "And I'm going to see why he didn't
come back," said the lad.
"I'd come with you if I could," said Mr. Buxton, "but at present I can no
more leave London than the Monument can. I'm as fast by the leg, held
by press of work, as a bear tethered to a stump. How do you stand for
funds?"
"I've only got a sovereign or two in my pocket," said Jack. "I was
depending on you."
"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "of course you were. I made time an hour
or so ago to run over your father's accounts. There's plenty to draw on."
He went over to his desk and ran his fingers through a bundle of papers.
"Here it is," he remarked. "At the present moment your father is worth
the respectable sum of forty-seven thousand two hundred and nineteen
pounds eighteen shillings and fourpence; so he certainly hasn't run
away from his creditors."
Jack nodded. "I'll start straight for Brindisi to-night, Mr. Buxton. I can't
lose a minute till I get on to the spot and talk with Buck Risley."
Mr. Buxton nodded. "I quite understand your feelings, Jack," he replied.

"I've wondered whether the matter might not have a very simple
explanation after all. One thing struck me. Has your father ever said
anything about his health to you? You know he's been a great deal in
India and Burmah. It's a very easy thing to get a touch of the sun, and
that will often cause a man to lose the sense of his identity and get lost
for a time."
Jack shook his head. "I've never heard him mention such a thing," he
said. "He's always been perfectly fit whenever I've seen him."
"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "and whenever I've seen him, too. He has
a wonderful constitution. But, you know, the possibility crossed my
mind, and I mentioned it."
At this moment the servant announced that the meal was ready, and
Jack did his best to eat something. It was a very poor best, however, for
he was too anxious to be on his way to be able to eat, and he was
relieved when Mr. Buxton said it was time to start and sent the servant
for a cab.
On their way to Charing Cross they did not talk much: conjecture was a
pretty useless thing, and, in their present state of utter lack of
information, conjecture was the only thing possible.
The bustle of getting a ticket and finding a seat occupied most of the
ten minutes they had to spare before the train started, and, as the swift
express glided out, Mr. Buxton waved his hat to Jack leaning through
the window, and cried, "Good luck!"
Of Jack's swift scurry across the Channel and over the Continent it is
not necessary to enter into details. He made the journey with the utmost
speed, and chafed at every delay. At last the train ran into the station of
Brindisi, and Jack hung half out of the window, his eyes searching the
crowd for Risley, to whom he had telegraphed his time of arrival.
"Hullo, Buck," sang out Jack, as a middle-sized, stiff-built man of five
and thirty ran up to his carriage door.

"Glad to see you, Jack," said Buck Risley, as they shook hands. "Very
glad to see you."
"Any news?" snapped Jack.
"Not a word," replied Buck gravely, "not a word. Is this your bag?"
"Yes," said Jack sombrely, for he was very disappointed. He had been
hoping to hear that something had been found out, or that his father had
returned.
Buck took Jack's gladstone, called a carriage, and gave the name of the
hotel. He did not speak till they were rattling along the streets of
Brindisi.
"Say, Jack, this beats the band," he said. "I can't make a guess what's
happened to the Professor."
Mr. Haydon and Buck Risley had first met in a "wild-cat" mining camp
in Dakota. The Lone Wolf Clarion had introduced the English engineer
to the local community as Professor Haydon, and Mr. Haydon had been
the Professor ever since to his part-comrade, part-servant.
"Tell me all about it," said Jack, and Buck began his story. It was soon
finished, for there was very little to tell. They had been four months in
Burmah, and Mr. Haydon and Buck had gone up to Mandalay, and then
on to the Mogok country. At Mogok Buck had been seized with a sharp
touch of fever, and had been compelled to remain in that famous
mining town