Part 48 (2/2)
”Very well,” said Mordaunt and they went to the gun-roouns and fishi+ng rods, ran along one wall; a bench occupied the other There was a plain table, stained by oil, and a fire burned in a stove with an open front, for the night was dalow played about the walls and shone on the greasy guns dick stopped Mordaunt, who put his hand on the electric-light switch
”Nevera letter on the table ”You dropped this”
”I did,” said Mordaunt, turning to dick, who leaned against the table
”I it up”
dick thought it significant that he had not opened the case to get the new gun Lance's voice was cal
”What was Evelyn writing to you about?” dick asked
The light from the stove touched Mordaunt's face, which hardened
”Then, you have not read the letter?”
”You know I have not,” dick rejoined, for his control gave way at the other's taunt Lance wanted to ry and find out how ht he would get a jar
”Anyhow, youto Evelyn,” he resumed ”I'd sooner you kept away from Whitelees when she co since Are you afraid to state why you want the the other meant to force him to be frank; he knew Lance had pluck ”You are a clever philanderer, but Evelyn's going to marry Jim”
Mordaunt smiled, imprudently, since his smile infuriated dick
”Looks as if you wanted to quarrel! I iain for soht to satisfy you Perhaps I'm dull, but I don't knohy our friendshi+p should break off”
”You well know!” dick exclai since!”
”You're a theatrical fool,” Mordaunt reh his voice was rather hoarse ”Anyhow, I think you're sober and you haveto justify it, if you forceand left the neighborhood, without an aard explanation If you go at once and don't come back, it's perhaps not needful the others should knohy you went You can live in town; I don't care where you live, so long as you don't see Evelyn again”
He stopped and his face got very red, for the door opened and Mrs
Halliday and Bernard cained ould find you here, but it looks as if you were quarreling,” Bernard re,” dick ade calet rid of his load had come It was his duty to tell Jim and Bernard and he had been afraid Now he could leave matters to the head of the house
”You are hot-blooded, dick, but I don't irounds for the dispute?”
”I'll tell you if you will send for Ji touches him”
Bernard pressed an electric bell and Mordaunt said: ”You will be very sorry for this, dick”
The bell rang and when a servant came Bernard said, ”Tell Mr Dearham ould like to see him here”
CHAPTER XVII