Freer, having secured the tickets, now came towards us. I met him half way. He look at me hard.
"I made a friend," I said, grinning as men do.
"Humph!" he said sourly. "I shouldn't think you'd be in the humour now."
I went out to the train with him, giving an amourous backward glance towards the girl.
An hour and a half later we were crouching among the young juniper trees at the edge of Dr. ——'s pond. I was reminded of that other night in Newport. Certainly I have led a full life this past week. Once more I waited with my heart in my throat fancying that I heard her approach in all the little sounds of night. Freer was no happier than I, I believe. While we waited in the dark I quietly unloaded the magazine of the pistol to guard against accidents.
Once we did hear steps approaching along one of the paths, and held our breaths. But they passed in another direction. If she had come my plan was to secure Freer with her assistance, if she were not too frightened. But she did not come.
Freer had a tiny electric flash with which he consulted his watch from time to time. He said at last:
"We can just make the train. It's the only train to-night."
"Come on," I said. "It isn't our fault if she didn't come."
"Thank God she didn't!" he said involuntarily.