The Swindler and Other Stories

he distance where the castle stood, many lights had begun to glimmer. It was the cosy h

e had not seen her since. He was, in fact, studiously avoiding her, more studiously than he had ever avoided any one in his life before. His daily visits to the castle he now paid early in the morning, before Babbacombe himself w

terviews with his chief. The smallest digression on Babbacombe's part he invariably ignored as unworthy of his attention, till even

g at that time, his heart must have warmed to the man, despi

that closed door behind which the swindler hid his lonely

in life has been offered too late; proud, also, after his curious, iron-clad fashion,

sters, the careless laughter of the women, the trivial, merry nonsense that was weaving another hour of happiness into the golden skein of

ght. With his collar turned up to his ears, he trudged forward. He cared

. The old woman who kept his house was doubtl

front. Then, with a shrug, as if impatient with himself for lingering,

sharply through the dripping stillness of the trees

d the sound to have come from that direction, and he hurried towards it wi

o him, but in such accents of ag

! I'm here-caught in

gh the undergrowth with the furio

ep still!" he sh

hat ran through the wood. She was on her knees, but she turned a de

" she gasped, "fastened in

rdered, as he drop

quainted. Her hand was fairly gripped between the iron jaws. He wonder

k shuddering, half-fainting, while he lifted he

saw with relief that the larger veins had escape

se is close by. It had b

e assente

e said, with b

p it," whisp

but she trembled so much th

tone's throw a

hout question. She se

d her down to

of trouble," she mur

he made g

for you th

ir, lighted a lamp, and dep

mastered herself as to be able

" she said, her voice high and tremulo

e," said West b

utmost tenderness, while she s

shaky laugh. "You are being very good

r with those pie

id you

ame into her

ing him doubtfully. "I didn't like to think of o

anage to get your hand

d this proble

he said, at length. "You see, I'm only a woman,

o express tacit agreeme

ry face, "it's done. You are not

in her tone. West, busy banda

must have hurt you infernally! If you tak

her face up

se you,

curtly. "As a sen

to be remarkable for

ged his

thing. It's getting rather monotonous. And I'm sure

s ice-blue e

timer," he said cynically. "Twelve years in pr

a smile, though her li

he said. "Has your h

said Wes

b it off?" sh

d his iro

t be anything

. "Well, give it to me, an

r, and the grim line of hi

o hard a job even

Her eyes were very soft and womanly. A quai

have a try," s

hand, nor would he

nd utterly unprofitable to all concerned. I

a trifle b

s of one syllable? You try, and perhaps then I'

unresponsive. It was as if he

a little sigh

Mr. West!

ith her t

ck with you?" he

ook he

quite light still beyond the t

bye!"

e from the shadow cast by the overarching trees. Then-for he knew that the rest of the journey

ted, he locked the door, and there