The Delta independent., 1915-10-01
251e THOUSANDTH
| WOMAN @'H6RSd2d &ERSESd
Author Of 6heAMAIEUR CRAFTSMAN.
RAFFLES. Etc.
HIUSTRAII0Ns|:S5, s|:5,7 by g. ,MIss M2NM1I NlIl NAAERS NesAAER

Whlte man, and won't unSay 1t now.
Nobody may ever know what he's done
to bring this upon him. But those who
really knew the man, and suffered for
it, can guess the kind of thing!"
Exactly" murmured Toye, as
though he had just said as much him
self. His dark eyes twinkled with de-
liberation and debate. How long is
it, by the way, that they gave that
clerk and friend of yours"
A keen look pressed the startling
question; at least, it startled Cazalet.
You mean Scruton? What on earth
made you think of him."
Talking of those who suffered for
being the dead mans friends, guess"
said Toye. Was it fourteen years?"
That was it,
But l guess fourteen doesn't mean
fourteen, ordinarily, if a prisoner be-
haves himself?"
"A little more than ten"
Then Scruton may be out now?"
Just"
Toye nodded with detestable
aplomb. THAT gives you something
to chew on" said he. "Of course,
uOn say ne 8 our man
Il should think you didn't" cried
Cazalet, white to the lips with sudden
fury.
Toye looked disconnected and dis
tressed, but at the same time frankly
puzzled. He apologized none the less
readily, with almost ingenious cour-
tesy and fullness. but he ended by ex-
planning himself in a single sentence,
and that told more than the rest of his
straightforward eloquence put to-
gether.
IF man had done you down like
that, wouldn't you want to Kill him the
very moment you came out, Cazalet?"
The creature of impulse was off at
a tangent. I'D forgive him if he did
it, tool" he exclaimed I'D move
heaven and earth to save him, guilty
or not guilty. Wouldn't you in my
place."
Il don't know" said Hilton Toye.
1T depends ca the place you're in,
guess!" And the keen dark eyes came
drilling into Cazalet's skull like
augers.
Il thought told you," he explained
impatiently. I'VE were in the office
together; he was good to me, winked
at the business hours / was inclined to
keep, let me down lighter in every way
than l deserved. You may say it was
part Of his game. But l take people
as l find them. And then, as l told
you, Scruton was ten thousand times
more sinned against than SHINING"
10
the time"
Il didn't. l told you SO the last
night"
Well, l mustn't ask questions" said
Hilton Toye, and began folding up his
newspaper with even more than his
usual deliberation.
"Oh, I'll tell you." cried Cazalet un-
graciously. It's my own fault for tell
ing you SO much. 1t was in letter
from Scruton himself that heard the
whole thing. I'd written to hin1-to-
ward the end-suggesting things He
managed to get an answer through
that would never have passed the
prison authorities. And-and that's
why l came home just when | did"
concluded Cazalet; that's why didn't
wait till after shearing. He's been
through about enough. and I've had
more luck than deserved. meant to
take him back with me, to keep the
books on our station, If you want to
know!" The brusk voice trembled.
Toye let his newspaper slide to the
floor. But that was fine!" he ex.
claimed simply. That's as fine an ac-
ton as I've heard of in long time"
IF it comes off," said Cazalet in a
gloomy voice.
Don't you worry. It'll come off. Is
he out yet, for sure? l mean, do you
know that he is?"
"Scruton? Yes-since you press it
he wrote to tell me that he was COM
ing out even sooner than he expected
Then he can stop out for me- said
hilton Toye. Il guess I'm not running
for that reward"