He was at a loss to account for his invitation to Green Fancy under
the circumstances. The confident attitude of those responsible for
Miss Cameron's detention evidently was based upon conditions which
rendered their position tenable. Their disregard for the consequences
that might reasonably be expected to result from this visit was
puzzling in the extreme. He could arrive at no other conclusion than
that their hospitality was inspired by a desire to disarm him of
suspicion. An open welcome to the house, while a bold piece of
strategy, was far better than an effort to cloak the place in mystery.
As he left the place behind him, he found himself saying that he had
received his first and last invitation to visit Green Fancy.
Peter drove slowly, carefully over the road down the mountain, in
direct contrast to the heedless rush of the belated "washer."
Responding to a sudden impulse, Barnes lowered one of the side-seats
in the tonneau and moved closer to the driver. By leaning forward he
was in a position to speak through the window at Peter's back.
"Pretty bad going, isn't it?" he ventured.
"Bad enough in the daytime," said Peter, without taking his eyes from
the road, "but something fierce at night.
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