The Pulaskian., 1916-06-30

meath the light, and now he took a step forward as though to meet the answer. Arnaud looked up with q twitching smile. He put his hand to his breast pocket and drew out thin sheaf of transparent paper and laid 1t on the table
 'Le yoilav' he said.
 For a full minute no one spoke a 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 future Farquhar turned involuntarily to Lowe A faint, ironical smile played around the mans hard mouth. It was the merest shadow, but it bespoke a purpose tri. umphantly accomplished
 Captain Arnaud has saved 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 all animal which is being done to death. Richard Farquhar took step nearer, and, picking up the papers, held them as though weighing thep
 Wait a minute. Don't be in such a hurry. I 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 You! What do you mean, Far quhar? I won't believe it. It's intol. erable-impossible. Say you didn't didn't sell them, Farquhar!' Captain Arnaud will explain" was the answer
 Arnaud rose slowly to his feet. He was staring across the table into Far. quhars face, stupidly, increduIously and when he spoke it was in the mono. tone of man under a hypnotic com. mand.
 "They were offered me- lie said Lieutenant Farquhar offered them to me. I disliked it; but I am a good Frenchman, and the temptation was too great. I bought them. I can only add-that I regret" He stammered and broke off with real helplessness Farquhar turned from him to Sower The latter's features had assumed 8 mask of ironical acceptance. "In that case there Is no more to be said" he observed coolly. "We can now credit MT. Farquhar's statement Farquhar bowed
 Thank you," he said simply. Preston crossed the room and f1uns open the door with a cool deliberation "Good-by, Farquhar hope you have decency enough left to know what tc do."
 For short space which seemed ar eternity Farquhar hesitated. The scorn and bitterness in the boys eyes had stung him. An hour ago he had been half hero, and now was noth. ing, beneath even contempt. Then he, too, bowed.
 T resigned my commission this morning."
 God be thanked for that" 
 He went down the narrow stairs into the street. Someone touched him on the arm. He turned and saw Arnaud "a new Arnaud, grown calm, almost indifferent. He was smoking, and the faint reflection from his cigar lighted up the white composure of his features. T want to speak to you for mo. ment," he said. T want to ask you why you did that?" Farquhar made no answer, and he went on sdeliber. ately: You are not mad You do not love me. You have good reason to hate me"
 You are to be Miss Omney's bus. band. My feelings toward her have not changed. 1 considered 1t my business to defend you. The sacrifice was not so great as it may seem. I had lost practically everything before. What remained I chose to lose in my own way"
 Tt wasn't all for myself. I was pretty desperate and not so cool when Lowe came with his second offer. You can guess what that was. Compared to betraying ones own country 1t seemed clean business. And I let you bear the brunt How does that strike you?"
 "Panic-the instinct of self-preser. vation. 1 counted on it. The future will be different"
 "How do you mean?"
 Farquhar turned round and faced him with deliberate significance.
 'It must be-" he said. "As for me, am done for. Though no one will speak of what has happened, the fact remains. Miss Omney believes in you ond 60 do copaa avfou< an,