“Where’s Lenning?” demanded the general manager.
“He went away yesterday and hasn’t come back,” said the superintendent.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
STARTLING NEWS.
The night watchman at the cyanide works had very important duties to perform. Jode Lenning, in spite of his youth, had been filling the position to the satisfaction of everybody at the mine. Burke’s announcement, therefore, came as a tremendous surprise.
“Went away?” repeated Mr. Bradlaugh. “Didn’t he tell you he was going?”
“Oh, certainly,” replied the superintendent, “he told me he was going, and that he would be back in plenty of time to go on duty at the tanks. Borrowed my saddle horse, too—the sorrel with the white stocking foot. Up to an hour ago, though, he hadn’t got back. Had to fill in his place last night with a man from the night shift in the mill.”
Colonel Hawtrey was taking this all in with significant glances, directed now at Frank and now at Mr. Bradlaugh. His face wore a grim “I-told-you-so” expression.
“What time did he leave the mine?” asked Mr. Bradlaugh.
“About nine in the morning.”