The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03

pipe" ne said quietly. by the way,
Gerald, I'm going down to Silverside
next week. Nina has asked Boots too
Couldn't you fix It to come along with
usr
"T don't know" said the boy In q
low voice. I'D like to-"
Good business. That will be fine!
What you and 1 need Is q good stift
tramp across the moors or a gallop Ii
you like. It's great for mental cob
webs, and my brain Is disgracefully
unswept. By the way, somebody said
that you'd Joined the Slowitha club"
YES" said the boy listlessly.
well, you'll get some lively trout
fishing there now. It's only thirty
miles from Silverside, you know. You
can run over in the motor very easily"
Gerald nodded, sitting silent, his
handsome head supported In both
hands, his eyes ON the floor.
That something was very wrong
with him appeared plainly enough, but
Selwyn, touched to the heart and mis-
erably apprehensive, dared not ques-
ton him unasked.
And so they sat there for awhile,
Selwyn making what conversation he
could, and at length Gerald turned and
dragged himself across the bed, drop
ping his head back on the disordered
pillows.
Go on" he said; I'm listening"
So Selwyn continued his pleasant,
inconsequential observations. and Ger
aid lay with closed eyes quite motion
less until, watching him, Selwyn saw
his hand was trembling where It lay
clinched beside him. And presently
the boy turned his face to the wall.
Toward midnight Selwyn rose quiet
~, removed his unlighted pipe from
between his teeth, knocked the ashes
from It and pocketed 1t. Then he
walked to the bed and seated himself
on the edge.
whats the trouble, old man?" he
asked coolly.
There was no answer. He placed his
hand over Gerald's. The boys hand
lay inert, then Quivered and closed on
Selwyn's eonvulsively.
That's right" said the elder man;
that's what I'm here for-to stand by
when you hoist signals. Go on"
The boy shook his head and buried
1t deeper in the pillow.
bad as thatT commented Selwyn
quietly. well, what Of it? I'm stand
ing by, tell you. That's right''-as
Gerald broke down. his body quivering
under the spasm Of soundless grief
that's the safety valve working. Good
business. Take your time"
1t took long time, and Selwyn sat
silent and motionless, his whole arm
numb from its position and Gerald's
crushing grasp. And at last, seeing that
was the moment to speak. he said:
"Now let's fix up this matter, Gerald.
Come on!"
Good heavens! H-how can it be
f-f1xedr
I'll tell you when you tell me. It's
a money difficulty, I suppose, isn't it?'
"Yes."
"Cards?
"P-partly."
"Oh, a note? Case Of honor2 Where
Is this l. o. q. that you gave"
TITS worse than that The-the note
is paid. Good God-I can't tell your
"You must. That's why I'm here
Gerald"
"Well, then, II drew a check
knowing that 1 had no funds. II tiff
they return 1t marked"-
II see. What are the figures?"
The boy stammered them out. Sci.
wyn's grave face grew graver still.
THAT is bad" he said slowly, "very
bad. Have you-but of course you
couldn't have seen Austin"
"Id kill myself first" said Gerald
fiercely.
mo, You wouldn't do that. You're
not that kind. Keep perfectly cool,
Gerald, because it is going to be fixed.
The method only remains to be de-
cided upon"
Il can't take your money! stammer-
ed the boy. Il can't take a cent from
you after what I've said-the beastly
things I've said"
''It isn't the things you say to me,
NcIdlu, lHdt LldlteF. Let We I0lOK u
bit, and don't worry. Just lie quietly
and understand that I'll do the worry
Ing. And while Pm amusing myself
with little quiet reflection as to ways
and means just take your own bearings
from this reef and set a true course
once more, Gerald. That is all the re-
proach, all the criticism, you are going
to get from me. Deal with yourself
and your God in silence"
And in silence and heavy dismay
Selwyn confronted the sacrifice he
must make to save the honor of the
house of Enroll.
1t meant more than temporary incon-
venience to himself. 1t meant that he
must go into the market and sell Sc
curities which were partly his capital
and from which came the modest in
come that enabled him to live as he
did.
There was no other way unless he
went to Austin. But he dared not do
that-dared not think what Austin's
action in the matter might be. And
he knew that If Gerald were ever
driven into hopeless exile, with Austin's