Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-09-24
CHAPTER XII.
The Thousandth Man.

II had been new life to them, but
now IT was all over II was the last
evening Of their week, and they were
spending II rather silently on
Blanche's balcony
| make II at least three hundred
said Cazalet. and knocked out a pipe
that might have been gag You
see, we were very seldom under titty!"
Speak for yourself, please My
longevitys tender point said
Blanche, who looked as though she
had no business 10 have her hair up
as she sat in pale cross ire between
lamppost and her lighted room
Cazalet protested that he had only
meant their mileage in the car, he
made himself extremely intelligibEF
now as he often would when she raj
lied him i'll serious voice.
Well, it's been heavenly time
she assured him Just once more And
tomorrow it's pretty sure TO come all
right about Scruton, isn't IT."
Yes Tomorrow We shall probably
have Toye back" he answered with
grim inconsequencs
What has that TO do with ii, Wal
ter"
on, nothing, OF course"
But still his tone was grim and
heavy with a schoolboy irony that he
would not explain but could not keep
to himself So Mr. TCye must Re
turned out Of the conversation, though
ii was not Blanche who had dragged
him in She wished people would
stick to their point
There's one thing I've rather want
ed TO ask you" she began
Yes" said Cazalet.
You said the other day that it
would mean worry for yGu in any case
after tomorrow whether the charge
is dismissed or not"
His wicker chair creaked under
him
Il don't see why it should She per
sisted, If the case falls through
Well. that's where | come in. he
had to say.
Surely you mean just the other
WAY about? II they commit the man
for trial, then you do come 10, know
It's like your goodness
Il wish YOU wouldn't say that 1t
hurts met
Then will you explain Yourself
It's not fair to tell me 50 much and
then TO leave out just the bit that's
making lou miserable.
The trusty slsterly, sensible voice
half banterng but altogether KIND
seuulneIy Interested II the least bit
iaqulsittye, too would have gone to d
harder or more hardened heart than
beat On Blanche's balcony that night
Yet as Cazalet lighted his pipe he
looked old enough 10 be her father
III tell YOU some time he pulled
Its only case OF two heads said
Blanche u know you're bothered
and should like 10 help. that's all
You couldn't
How do you know? believe you're
going 10 devote yourself u this poor
man--if YOU can get him on Il mean,
when you do
Well" he said
Surely could help you there
Especially II he's ILL., cried Blanche,
encouraged by his silence I'm lot
half bad nurse, really"
I'm certain you're not
Does he look very M"
She had been trying 10 avoid the
direct question as far as possible, but
this one seemed so harmless. Yet il
was received in stony silence unlike
any that had gone before 1t was as
though Ca2alet neither moved nor
oreathed, whereas he had been all
signs and fidgets Just before His pipe
was cut already--that was the one
merit OF bush tobacco, 1t required
constant attention-and he did not
look like lighting 1t again
Until tonight they had not men
toned Scruton since the motoring be
gan. That had been tacit rule Of the
road, of wayside talk and indoor orgy
But Blanche had always assumed that
Cazalet had been TO see him in the
prison; and now he told her that he
never had
4 cant face him, he cried under
his breath, and that's the truth Let
me get him out Of this hole, and I'm
his man forever, but until do, while
there's a chance OF failing, | simply
can't face the fellow 1t isn't as If
ned asked TO see me. Why should |
force myself upon him?"
He hasn't asked to see you because
he doesn't know what you're doing for
him" Blanche leaned forward as ca
gerly as she was speaking, all her re
pressed feelings coming TO their own
in her for just moment He doesn't
know because do believe you
wouldn't have him told that you'd ar
rived, lest he should suspect! You
are brick, Sweep, you really are!"
Taut,puad Maxt Waok