“Both all right, as right as they’ll be for several weeks.”
“But how did you know we were coming here? How did you manage to get here?”
“Carter stopped on his way out to make sure about the road. I wanted to come with him, but there was no room in his car. He refused to bring me, anyhow. I managed to worm out of him what your plans were, and the doctor’s jitney did the rest.”
“Well,” growled the chief, with simulated indignation, though secretly delighted with Dean’s show of spirit, “I suppose there’s nothing else to do but to take you along. Climb in there beside Miss Strong.”
As Dean approached the car Jane rose in amazement.
“Oh, Thomas, Mr. Dean,” she cried, “I’m so glad to see you. I was afraid yesterday that you had been badly hurt.”
“It was a close shave for both of us,” he admitted, flushing with delight at the warmth of her greeting, “but what are you doing here? The Chief had no business to bring you on a trip like this.”
All his affection for the girl had revived at this unexpected sight of her, and with a lover’s righteous anxiety he resented Fleck’s having exposed her to the probable perils of this expedition to the enemy’s secret lair.
“They needed me,” she said simply, “to show them the way.”
“That need exists no longer,” he protested, “since I am here. The Chief must send you back.”