Part 53 (1/2)

”Thank you,” he said simply; and then added: ”Only one thing more remains to be done. Mrs. Challoner, I must ask you to break these seals.”

Miriam demurred.

”Oh, no, Mr. Murgatroyd!” she said. ”Surely you must know that I believe you!”

But Murgatroyd insisted; and obeying him finally, Miriam broke the seals, and presently she showed to them the securities, undisturbed, just as Murgatroyd had taken them, dollar for dollar, bond and bond.

Suddenly Murgatroyd felt a touch on the arm.

”And I believe you, Billy,” said s.h.i.+rley contritely.

An enigmatical smile pa.s.sed across the prosecutor's face.

”Do you, indeed?” he said dryly; and added: ”That's, perhaps, more than I had any right to expect.”

A slight pucker showed on Miss Bloodgood's beautiful brow, but she replied, quite unruffled:--

”Why, of course, I do. After all, you were honest, weren't you?” And not waiting for his answer, added ingenuously: ”You were not a thief!”

Instantly the expression on Murgatroyd's face became a very serious one.

”Yes, I was,” he protested, ”I was a thief.” And with that he turned to Challoner and said in a voice of great feeling: ”Challoner, this money is your wife's. Take it. And great G.o.d, man,” he groaned, ”don't, don't forget what it did to you--what it made you, years ago.”

Mrs. Challoner s.h.i.+vered at the prosecutor's earnestness; but Challoner, hesitating for a moment only, advanced and said:--

”We'll take it. I'm not a bit afraid now, Murgatroyd--for I _know_.” And then holding out his hand, he continued kindly: ”Billy, if you hadn't taken it--where would I have been to-day?”

”Free--free as you are now,” said the other man in a low, strained tone.

”Yes,” a.s.sented Challoner, ”out of prison, but----”

Mrs. Challoner quickly rose and put an end to the conversation going on between the men.

”Come, Laurie,” she said abruptly; and holding out her hand, ”good-bye, Mr. Murgatroyd! I'm afraid we have taken up altogether too much of your time.”

Murgatroyd shook hands with the Challoners; but on s.h.i.+rley making her adieus, he said:--

”May I have a moment with you, Miss Bloodgood? Won't you wait, please?”

Mrs. Challoner answered for the girl:--

”s.h.i.+rley, don't be in any hurry. Laurie and I will wait for you in the ante-room--” And as they pa.s.sed out Challoner called: ”Wait until you see that concrete hospital, Murgatroyd!”

For moments that seemed hours s.h.i.+rley and Murgatroyd stood facing each other, neither having the courage to speak, the girl filled with shame at the great wrong she had done to the man she loved; while he, feeling as if the burden that had rested upon his soul had at last rolled away, was drawing deep breaths--breathing like a man who has suddenly come out of darkness into the daylight. s.h.i.+rley was the first to break the silence; and now looking up at Murgatroyd, with a little shake of the head she asked:--

”Billy, do you care to know what I think of you?”

”Perhaps, if I had cared less, I----”

But not for a moment would s.h.i.+rley listen now to his censuring himself further, and quickly she cut him off.