"I mean that if your daughter sees him, it will be too late."
"I understand," he said, and lost no time in doing as he was bidden.
The private signal was hoisted at the siding, and the train stopping, they both got in. As it pa.s.sed the next station Hal threw out a note, with half-a-crown wrapped inside it, asking the station-master to forward a telegram to Reg to meet them at Launceston station.
"This is my friend Morris, Mr. Goodchild," said Hal, introducing Reg, whom they found waiting for them; and ten minutes later, by special arrangement with his highness the guard, the three had a first-cla.s.s compartment in the Hobart express all to themselves. By the time Hobart was reached, all three thoroughly understood each other.
"Really, gentlemen, I don"t know how to thank you for the trouble you are taking; certainly I am rich, and I shall be most happy to place my purse at your disposal."
"We appreciate your offer, sir, but we have enough to go on with," said Hal.
"And as for the rest," chimed in Reg, "we are just as anxious to get hold of Wyck as you are, sir."
"Gentlemen, I am an old man, but should harm have come to my----"
"Come, come, sir, don"t look at it like that," said Hal, making light of it, for he could plainly see that the old gentleman was working himself up to a highly-excitable state.
"Here we are," said Reg, taking his cue from Hal. "By Jove, what a glorious place; what magnificent scenery; well may Tasmanians be proud of it!"
"Where do you stay when in Hobart?" asked Hal of the old man.
"At "Eastella." The proprietress, Mrs. Eastwood, is an old friend of mine."
"If you will be guided by us, sir, you will stay at the "Orient" with us."
"I am entirely in your hands, gentlemen."
Hobart is known as "Sleepy Hollow." The train was slow, the porters leisurely, the cab-horses comatose, and it was only after considerable delay that they arrived at the "Orient" and took their rooms.
"Excuse us for a moment," said Hal, leading Reg away. "I am going to Eastella to enquire. The girl may be there, and so may he. I may book a room for a week. In the meantime, keep an eye on Goody, and don"t go out until I return and let you know the result," he said, when Goody was out of earshot.
Reg a.s.sented, and returned to his companion. Hal had no difficulty in finding his way to Eastella, and, noting it was a first-cla.s.s place, he sent in his card, with the intimation that he wished to see the proprietress. A few minutes later he was ushered into a snug little office, and found himself face to face with a pleasant-featured, homely lady of some fifty summers, seated at a desk heaped up with papers.
"You wanted to see me, Mr. Winter?" she enquired, rising and greeting him.
"Yes, Mrs. Eastwood, I want to stay here for a week."
"Certainly; that will cost you three guineas," she said, making out a receipt.
Hal paid the bill, with a mental tribute of admiration of her business-like ways.
"Have you a Miss Goodchild staying here?" he asked.
"Yes; why do you ask?"
"Have you a Mr. Wyckliffe?"
"No, he"s not here at present. I expect him back in a day or two," she answered, wonderingly.
"Then they have not met?" said Hal, in some excitement.
"No, of course not; but who are you? I hope you are not an enquiry agent, for if you are--"
"No, no, madam! but you cannot think what a relief to me your answer was."
"Will you kindly explain?" said she, looking at him curiously.
"You know that Miss Goodchild has left her home and father, to meet him here?"
"No, I do not; although she"s certainly not herself. But who are you?"
"My dear madam, forgive my haste; but I will explain everything to you later. I must run off now to tell Mr. Goodchild the good news."
"Why, where"s Mr. Goodchild?"
"Staying at the "Orient," by my advice. But now, one more question, madam--Do you know where Wyckliffe is now?"
"He"s yachting off Port Arthur. I sent a telegram on to him to-day, which had been waiting here for him for two days." Here, the entrance of a maid-servant for instructions, gave Hal the opportunity of leaving; and, taking a cab, he was soon back at the "Orient."
"It"s all right, Reg," he shouted. "Where"s Goody?"
"He"s in the drawing-room, pacing it like a wild beast in a cage."
"Good news, Mr. Goodchild. They have not met yet," said Hal, shaking him by the hand.
"Thank G.o.d!" said the old man, fervently, and the relief was so great, that he sank on his knees by the sofa.
Hal and Reg left the room: the old man"s thankfulness was too sacred to be overlooked.
"Have you found him?" asked Reg.
"Yes, he"s at Port Arthur."
"Where"s that?"
"It"s the old convict settlement, about forty miles from here."
"How do you get to it--by rail?"
"No, we must go by boat. If you"ll look after Goody, I"ll run down to the wharf and make arrangements."
"Hal, old boy, where should I be without you?" said Reg, turning a face full of grat.i.tude on his friend.
"Nonsense. We must lose no time," and he hurriedly left in the direction of the harbour. Alongside Elizabeth Pier he found a small steam-boat and, as smoke was coming from her, he concluded she was in use.
"Ship ahoy, there!" he sung out.
"What"s up, boss?" said a young fellow, putting his head through the hatchway.