Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-09

S.Sc, - - time"
why did you
"Whu did you lcare leave IT.?
"f Hugh touched
his parched lips with his tongue. Again
that nervous. sidelong look that fear.
full glance over his shoulder.
II had. no money to work IT, | had
to live Besides. I'm tired OF the whole
thing"
The backward glance, the look OF
dread. were tangible tokens Harry
translated them.
"Tou are not telling the truth" he
said shortly. What have you done?"
Hugh flinched. but he made suller
answer: Nothing. What should I
have done;"
THAT is what am now inquirine
Of myself" said Harry Your face is
book for any one to read see things
written on 1t, Hugh-things that tell
story Of wronGdoing You are
afraid"
Hugh shivered under the regard. Did
his face really tell so much?
II don't care to be seen In town" he
said. you wouldn't either, probably,
under the circumstances His gaze
dropped to his frayed coat sleeve. In
his craven fear Of something that he
dared not name even to himself and
in his wretched need he remembered
a night once before when he had sided
into town drunken and soiled to a lux.
urious room. n refreshing bath, clean
linen and Il welcome
You're the only one In the world I
dared come to-" he said miserably.
i've walked ten miles today. for I
haven't red cent IN my pocket. nor
even decent Clothes" he ended.
THAT can be partly remedied." said
Harry after pause. He took dark
coat from its hook and tossed it to
him. Put that on" he said. You
needn't return it."
Hugh caught the garment In an.
other moment he had exchanged 1t for
the one he wore and was emptying the
old coats pockets.
Don't sneakw said Harry with sud.
den contempt Don't You suppose |
IL l
The thin scar on Hughs brow red
dened. He thrust into his pocket the
pasteboards he had made an instlnc-
tive move to conceal and buttoned the
coat around him. 1t fitted sufficiently.
Look here. Harry" he began. you
I'm sorry I never paid you the money
I borrowed. would have bur for
what happened. But You won't 20
back OH me now, will you? want to
get out Of the country and begin ovel
again somewhere. Will you loan me
the money TO do it,"
Hugh was eager and voluble now.
The man to whom he appealed was his
forlorn hope. He had come with nc
Intention Of throwing himself upon his
fathers mercy. He had wished to see
anybody in the world but him.
"If you will. I'll never forget it, Har.
ry" he cried Never. the Longest
Cay | live! III use every dollar Of il
just as l say. will. on my honor
"Honor! he said. Have you enough
TO swear by: You are what you ara
because you are n bad egg. You were
born gentleman, but you choose t,
be II rogue. Do You know the meaning
OF the word honor or right or justice
Have you single purpose OF mint
which isn't crooked"
You're just like the rest. then"
Hugh retorted. Just because | did
tvit
chance. Yet the first thing | did with
that money was to square myself. |
paid every debt of honor had That's
why I'm in the hole now. But ] get
no credit for L. even from you. wish
You could put yourself In my place"
Harry had been looking steadily AT
the sallow face with its hoof print OF
the satyr. not seeing it, but hearing
his own voice say to Jessica: Il was
my brothers keeper | see 1t now"
And out of the distance, 1t seemed. his
voice answered:
Put myself In your place! l wish
could. ! wish to God | couldw
The exclamation was involuntary,
automatic. the cumulative expression
Of every throe of conscience Harry
had endured since then. the voice OF
that remorse that had cried insistently
for reparation. dining In his ears the
fateful question that God asked OF
Cain. Suddenly whlrl Of rage seized
him. unmeasured, savage, malicious.
He had despised Hugh, now he hated
Inundated him because he was Jessi-
cas- husband and. more than all, be-
cause he was the symbol of his own
self abasement A daredevil side Of
the old Satan Sanderson that he had
chained and barred rose up and took
him by the throat Tie struck the OAK
wainscotinG with his fist. feeling a red
mist grow before his eyes.
$50 you paid every debt Of honor
you had. Ell? You acknowledge q
gamester's honor but not the obliga.
ton Of right action between man and
man! Very well. Give me that pack
Of cards, You want money-here II
tsp
He swiftly turned the clicking com.
bination OF the safe. wrenched open
the door and took out two heavy can.
vas bags. He snapped the cord from
the neck Of one Of these. and a ring.
Ing stream Of double eagles swept
jlngling on the table. He dipped his
hand In the yellow pile. A thought
mad as the boots OF runaway horses