CHAPTER XXVI

n,dueinfiveminutes,whenDellwigcameupbehindandlaidahandonhisshoulder. "What!Areyougoingtojumpoutofyourskin?"Dellwiginquiredwithaburstoflaughter. Klutzstaredathimspeechlesslyafterthatfirststart,waitingforwhatwouldfollow.Hisfacewasghastly. "Fathersobad,eh?"saidDellwigheartily."Nervesallgone,what?Well,it'senoughtomakeaboylookpaletohavehisfatheronhislast——" "Whatdoyouwant?"whisperedKlutzwithpalelips.SeveralpersonswhoknewDellwigwereontheplatform,andwerestaring. "Why,"saidDellwig,sinkinghisvoicealittle,"youhaveheardofthefire—Ididnotseeyouhelping,bytheway?YouwerewithHerrvonLohmlastnight—don'tlooksofrightened,man—ifIdidnotknowaboutyourfatherI'dthinktherewassomethingonyourmind.Ionlywanttoaskyou—thereisastrangerumourgoingabout——" "Iamgoinghome—home,doyouhear?"saidKlutzwildly. "Certainlyyouare.Noonewantstostopyou.Whodoyouthinktheysaysetfiretothestables?" Klutzlookedasthoughhewouldfaint. "TheysayLohmdidithimself,"saidDellwiginalowvoice,hiseyesfixedontheyoungman'sface. Klutz'searsburntsuddenlybrightred.Helookeddown,lookedup,lookedoverhisshoulderinthedirectionfromwhencethetrainwouldcome.Smallcoldbeadsofagitationstoodoutonhisnarrowforehead. "Thepointis,"saidDellwig,whohadnotmissedamovementofthattwitchingface,"thatyoumusthavebeenwithLohmnearlytillthetimewhen—youwentstraighttohimafterleavingus?" Klutzbowedhishead. "Thenyoucouldn'thavelefthimlongbeforeitbrokeout.Imethimmyselfbetweenthestablesandhisgatefiveminutes,twominutes,beforethefire.Hewentpastwithoutaword,inagreathurry,asthoughhehopedIhadnotrecognisedhim.Nowtellmewhatyouknowaboutit.Justtellmeifyousawanything.Itistobothourintereststocuthisclaws." Klutzpressedhishandstogether,andlookedroundagainforthetrain. "Doyouknowwhatwillcertainlyhappenifyoutrytobegenerousandshieldhim?He'llsayyoudidit,andsoget