The Rayner-Slade Amalgamation | Page 2

day or two. No, if James had taken the trouble to
send him a message by wireless from the North Sea, it meant that
James was really anxious to see him at the first available moment, and
would already have landed in Hull, expecting to find him there.
However, with a good car, smooth roads, and a fine, moonlit night--
It was not yet twelve o'clock when Allerdyke wrapped himself up in a
corner of his luxurious Rolls-Royce, saw that the box of eatables and
the two Thermos flasks were safe in the locker, and told Gaffney to go
ahead. He himself had the faculty of going to sleep whenever he
pleased, and he went to sleep now. He was asleep as Gaffney went
through Leeds and its suburbs; he slept all along the country roads
which led to Selby and thence to Howden. But in the silent streets of
Howden he woke with a start, to find that Gaffney had pulled up in
answer to a question flung to him by the driver of another car, which
had come alongside their own from the opposite direction. That car had
also been pulled up; within it Allerdyke saw a woman, closely wrapped
in furs.
"What is it, Gaffney?" he asked, letting down his own window and
leaning out.
"Wants to know which is the best way to get across the Ouse, sir,"
answered Gaffney. "I tell him there's two ferries close by--one at Booh,
the other at Langrick--but there'll be nobody to work them at this hour.
Where do you want to get to?" he went on, turning to the driver of the
other car.
"Want to strike the Great Northern main line somewhere," answered
the driver. "This lady wants to catch a Scotch express. I thought of

Doncaster, but--"
The window of the other car was let down, and its occupant looked out.
The light of the full moon shone full on her, and Allerdyke lifted his
cap to a pretty, alert-looking young woman of apparently twenty-five,
who politely returned his salutation.
"Can I give you any advice?" asked Allerdyke. "I understand you
want--"
"An express train to Scotland--Edinburgh," replied the lady. "I made
out, on arrival at Hull, that if I motored across country I would get a
train at some station on the Great Northern line--a morning express.
Doncaster, Selby, York--which is nearest from wherever we are!"
"This is Howden," said Allerdyke, looking up at the great tower of the
old church. "And your best plan is to follow this road to Selby, and then
to York. All the London expresses stop there, but they don't all stop at
Selby or at Doncaster. And there's no road bridge over the Ouse nearer
than Selby in any case."
"Many thanks," responded the lady. "Then," she went on, looking at her
driver, "you will go on to York--that is--how far?" she added, favouring
Allerdyke with a gracious smile. "Very far?"
"Less than an hour's run," answered Gaffney for his master. "And a
good road."
The lady bowed; Allerdyke once more raised his cap; the two cars
parted company. And Allerdyke stopped Gaffney as he was driving off
again, and produced the provisions.
"Half-past two," he remarked, pulling out his watch. "You've come
along in good style, Gaffney. We'll have something to eat and drink.
Queer thing, eh, for anybody to motor across from Hull to catch a Great
Northern express on the main line!"
"Mayn't be any trains out of Hull during the night, sir," answered

Gaffney, taking a handful of sandwiches. "They'll get one at York,
anyway. Want to reach Hull at any particular time, sir?"
"No," answered Allerdyke. "Go along as you've come. You'll have a bit
of uphill work over the edge of the Wolds, now. When we strike Hull,
go to the Station Hotel."
He went to sleep again as soon as they moved out of Howden, and he
only awoke when the car stopped at the hotel door in Hull. A
night-porter, hearing the buzz of the engine, came out.
"Put the car in the garage, Gaffney, and then get yourself a bed and lie
as long as you like," said Allerdyke. "I'll let you know when I want
you." He turned to the night-porter. "You've a Mr. James Allerdyke
stopping here I think?" he went on. "He'd come in last night from the
Christiania steamer."
The night-porter led the way into the hotel, and towards the office.
"Mr. Marshall Allerdyke?" he asked of the new arrival. "The gentleman
left a card for you; I was asked to give it to you as soon as you came."
Allerdyke took the visiting-card which the man produced from a letter
rack, and read the lines hastily scribbled on the back--
If you land here during the night, come