IN THE SHADOW
nity it was at Virginia's outbursts of affection. She ignored any lack of reciprocation on the part of her brother; as a result he would usually reciprocate.
"Write your telegram, Manning," said Giles. "How are you going to put it?"
Manning meditated for an instant. "How's this?" He tore a leaf from his notebook, scribbled a few words, and handed it to Virginia who read aloud:
Have need of your professional services. Matter urgent. Friend lost in swamp. Postpone or cancel other engagements. Expense no object. Can you come?
"That will fetch him!" said Giles emphatically.
"He can catch a sleeper to-night and be here in the morning," said Manning.
The wire was immediately dispatched, and so the matter stood. At midnight the black boy, who had ridden into the city with the message and had been told to await the answer, returned. The message read:
Expect me in the morning to conduct search for Dessalines.
"I say," cried Giles, "how do you think he knew that it was Dessalines?"
Virginia answered quickly. "He knew that Dessalines had failed in Hayti and was probably a fugitive; it would be natural to expect him to turn to his nearest friends for aid."
"Right!" cried Giles. "Then there was that matter of the runaway negro and the big tracks which Leyden saw by the roadside."
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