Phil tried him with several questions.
“Is it Jim Langford?” he asked at last.
Smiler nodded excitedly and pulled at Phil’s coat more desperately than ever.
“Jim Langford has sent Smiler for me, Miss Pederstone. I know you will excuse me. Let me hurry you back to the hall.”
“It can’t be anything serious?” she queried anxiously, “no accident or anything like that?”
“Oh, no!––but Jim’s a queer fish and I guess it will be best to get to him as quickly as possible. No saying what trouble he gets into in the course of five minutes.”
Phil saw her safely back to the hall, wished her “Good night,” and darted after Smiler who was waiting for him in the shadows.