grew disti

old numskul

oked to the north, but his feet carried him to the east. That he was much moved was atte

Anthony-I mea

teeth at th

ound it, I haven't murder

und upon Anthony, and they were immediately debase

, s

th me and help m

is room and his coat and vest flopped through the air as Peters shut the door. Whatever the old servant lacked in agility he made up in c

er? Waiting i

Readin

, I wish you'd been there-where's those trousers? Rub som

looked on with a shining eye and a smile which

ill I pass fa

pe so

don't t

d to dece

own stairs. I'll go after you and bang the door. Then you say good

-so! Just ruffle your hair a bit,

hurry, but watch those big feet of yours. If yo

ling of Peters for, though he fought against the threatening explosion, it rumbled like

nthony," said Peters

eters. Wher

, sir. Shall I

to my room when

not be facing him, but he found that John Woodbury was not even reading. He sat

o, An

evenin

ation so long that they were compelled to be formal, and as Anthony turned to lay down

this c

dn't dream of d

to try it; just a tri

been occupying. Anthony hesitated, but then, like one who

comforta

clasped behind him, peering dow

ed it myself for you and I had a

ped to

r the knees, doesn't it? Y

ther, and mighty t

ed about like one who has forgotten so

-in fact I'm not very

ws rose a tri

it usual? Bet

tancy, as if the son were not quite sure of t

if it'll mak

bell-cord and lowered himself with a little grunt of relaxation into a chair. The chair was stoutly built, but it groaned a little under the we

g man ordered: "Scotch and seltzer a

ng anything, sir

beer." He added as the servant disappeared: "Never could get a tast

"haven't you a right to be co

. "A young fellow in your position

with the liquor. John Woodbury, however, returned to the charge as soon as they were left alone again, saying: "As a matter of fact, I'm about to set you up in an establi

ired of Lo

to the city,

my

gentleman. But"-he reached out at this point and smashed a burly fist into a palm hardly less hard-"but I'll be damned, Anthony, if I'll let you stay

a six-shooter in my hand, sir, I feel as if I had six lives. Odd, isn't it?" He grew excited as he talked, his eyes gleaming with dancing points of fire. "And I'll tell you this, sir: I'd rather be out in the

ward, "no matter what fool ideas you get in

of an ax when armoured men meet in battle. The flicker in the eyes of Anthony was the rapier which swerves from the

se you k

ared gloomily

rt of mad,

ter how angered he might be. Now the cold light passed from his eyes. He rose and pa

ould so nearly fall out with the f

mile touched those stiff, stern lips; one of the great work

nonsense that you're always reverting to? No mor

ot," said An

it down and tell

ally said, with difficu

son s

ite rose from the bo

I tho

know it was childish, but-I couldn't help it! I saw the posters; I thought of the horse-breaking, the guns, the swing

; it was almost fear t

t his son. He said at l

you've given up the t

fe

f despair, "I have given it up, I suppo

t else h

g to sp

ly change your clothes merely for th

you, does it?"

that's what they'd call

number of questions,

el

ce, which you always keep locked.

oor which opened

ope

ere's one thing more that I have a right to hear

d and the chair gr

to speak of her, Anthony

res me

"but my mother-she is different. Why, sir, I do

ight to know exactly what I

below, and stared for a time into the night. When he turned he found that Anthony had risen-a slender, erect figure

ick. I must know so

us

hing in it is yours; but my mother-she was as much mine as yours, and I'l

breath of John Woo

iving birth to

! She die

he room. John Woodbury stood at the fire-place with bowed head, and Anthony shaded his ey

tell you. Will you sit down, sir, and let me t

t to have i

umed the