"ONE MORE UNFORTUNATE."
The first person to tell Val Blake of Charley's flight was Captain Cavendish. He found that officer killing time by lounging on the platform, and staring at the passengers, as he alighted. Speckport, from time immemorial, had had a great fancy for crowding steamboat wharves and railway-platforms, to look at new arrivals; and strangers in the place fell into the habits of the natives, unconsciously.
"Poor devil!" said the captain, swinging his cane airily about, and linking his arm in Val's; "I hope he'll dodge them, and escape Jack Ketch. I never like to see any one I've been on friendly terms with once, coming to that."
"Are your friends in the habit of coming to it?" Mr. Blake asked, innocently.
"Bah! How did you enjoy your trip up the country?"
"As well as I expected."
"And did you find Cherrie?"
"What?"
"Did you find Cherrie?" serenely repeated Captain Cavendish.
"No," said Val. "Do you know where she is!"