Part 6 (2/2)

”Help--! It is that I want. It is that which brought me here. It is because I must have you help me.”

”You've only to say what you want.”

”Your help--”

”You know I'll do whatever I can for you.”

”Yes--; I hoped that. I counted--on--your--help.”

He waited for Kurz to go on. Kurz sat there silent. The long, shaking fingers fumbled at each other.

”Well?”

”Later.”

”All right--I don't know what you're driving at.”

”Are--you--sure--you--do--not--know--?”

”But--If you don't want to tell me now; why, tell me in your own good time, old fellow.”

”Yes. You are not angry? You do not care if I say it later?”

”Of course I don't care.”

”Not--care--If--you--knew--; if--it--is--true--; you will care!”

He could not make out what Kurz meant.

”It's mighty nice seeing you,” he said after a second's silence. ”It's been a long time. Years since I've seen you.”

”I came though, Charlie;--I had to come, Charlie.”

”I'm jolly well glad you did!”

”You knew I would come.”

He drew his brows together in a perplexed frown.

”I knew we would meet sometime.”

”Yes. Sometime.”

”And the sometime's now. Eh, Otto?”

”Now?” Kurz's big body strained forward. ”What--is--it, Charlie--; this--now--?”

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