THE SOD ON THE PANE
ling had not been at thought of failure, but at the peril to himself involved in success. Now he looked white. There was a slight sucking in of the nostrils. This fellow with the small, hawk look about his nose, perhaps had the hawk wish in his heart to peck, but lacked blood courage. "Then what are you staying for?"
Evidently they had reached the real issue of the case. Carron suffered illumination. "That," he said, picking up his rake, "is none of your business."
"If you think you're going to get her by staying," Ferrier breathlessly began, "you're fooled! You can't!" But his anguish told how little certain he was. "You can't, I tell you! No one can take her away from me! O, God!" The weight of his fear seemed to fall on him all at once. He sat down on the bank and took his head in his hands.
Carron looked at him with an embarrassed and compassionate eye. He felt very sorry for him. "Look here, Ferrier," he murmured, "there's no use in our talking—better drop it."
Ferrier was on his feet again. "Yes, we'll drop it! When you go!" That sound of pity in Carron's voice seemed to be more than he could bear. "I'll drop it, if you'll get out this day and this minute."
The man who had been struggling to leave this harrassing conversation and resume his mild occupa-
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