Bonners Ferry herald., 1916-07-07

broken the intOlerable silence. BE
had never for an instant lifted his eyes
from the face of the man seated be-
meath the light, and now he took
step forward as though to meet the
answer. Arnaud looked up with a
twitching smile. He put his hand to
his breast pocket and drew out thin
sheaf of transparent paper and laid
it on the table.
lie voilal" he said.
For a full minute no one spoke
word. Each mans attention was CEN
tered on the silent, deadly witness
against the honor Of one among them.
Then Farquhar looked up and met Ar
naud's eyes. He read there more than
mere bravado-a nerveless, hideous
fear, the panic-stricken appeal of a
man who has trembled for days on the
brink of ruin and feels the ground
slipping beneath him. And this was
Sylvia's Omney's futurel Farquhar
turned involuntarily to Lowe. A
faint ironical smile played around the
mans hard mouth. 1t was the merest
shadow, but it bespoke a purpose tri-
umphantly accomplished.
Captain Arnaud has saved a great
deal of trouble" he observed brutally.
Still Arnaud did not move. His
white hands lay paralyzed in front of
him, and his eyes had become blank
and stupid looking, like those of an
animal which is being done to death.
Richard Farquhar took a step nearer,
and, picking up the papers, held them
as though weighing them.
"Wait a minute. Don't be in such
hurry. l take the responsibility for
this business
They stared at him. He was still
weighing the papers and smiling rather
wryly. He was thinking Of Sylvia al
that moment, and Preston's stricken
cry of horror sounded dull and far Off
"Youl What do you mean, Far
quhar? 1 won't believe it. It's intol
erable-impossible. Say you didn't
didn't sell them, Farquharr
Captain Arnaud will explain" wal
the answer.
Arnaud rose slowly to his feet. HI
was staring across the table into Far
quhar's face, stupidity, incredulously
and when he spoke it was in the mono
tone of a man under hypnotic com
mand.
'They were offered me-" he said
Lieutenant Farquhar offered them t,
me. l disliked it; but l am a goot
Frenchman, and the temptation wa
too great. 1 bought them. l can onl,
add-that 1 regret" He stammere,
and broke off with real helplessness
Farquhar turned from him to Sowel
The latter's features had assumed
mask of ironical acceptance.
''In that case there is no more to b
said" he observed coolly. 1--WE ca
now credit Mr. Farquhar's statement.
Farquhar bowed.
THANK you," he said simply.
Preston crossed the room and fun
open the door with a cool deliberatior
"Good-by, Farquhar. l hope you hav
decency enough left to know what t
do"
For short space which seemed a
eternity Farquhar hesitated. Tn
scorn and bitterness in the boys eye
had stung him. An hour ago he ha
been half a hero, and now was nott
ing, beneath even contempt. Then ht
too, bowed.
81 resigned my commission thi
morning"
GOD be thanked for that"
He went down the narrow stairs int
the street. Someone touched him o
the arm. He turned and saw Arnau
"a new Arnaud, grown calm, almos
Indifferent. He was smoking, and tn
faint reflection from his cigar lighte
up the white composure Of his features
II want to speak to you for a me
ment," he said. II want to ask you
why you did that?" Farquhar mad
no answer, and he went on delibel
ately: You are not mad You do nc
love me. You have good reason to hat
me-"
| tOo oAt ~ Dt MISS OALAC1 hui
band. My feelings toward her have nc
changed. l considered 1t my bushes
to defend you. The sacrifice was nc
so great as it may seem. l had los
practically everything before. wins
remained l chose to lose in my ow
way"
at wasn't all for myself. l wa
pretty desperate and not so cool whe
Lowe came with his second offer. Yo
can guess what that was. Compare
to betraying ones own country
seemed clean business. And let 20
bear the brunt. How does that strik
your"
"Panic-the instinct of self-presel
walton. l counted ON 1t. The futur
will be different"
"How do you mean?"
Farquhar turned round and face
him with deliberate significance.
''It must be-" he said. "As for N,
I am done for. Though no one wi
speak OF what has happened. the FAC