Page:Frank Packard - Greater Love Hath No Man.djvu/109

 with a single word—even you will understand why. Mrs. Merton—is she well?"

"Yes," said Merton, and the hoarseness in his voice this time was not assumed.

"You are allowed thirty minutes for a visit," said Varge, "and they may think it strange if, without reason, you stay only five for you are going now—so I am going to make a disturbance in order that no suspicion may be directed against you, do you understand?"—he glanced toward the guard outside in the corridor, then he raised his fist and brought it down with a crash on the steel mesh in front of him. "I don't want to talk to you!" he shouted. "Do you hear, I don't want to talk to you! You've got no business here, anyway!"

Willett, from unconcern, sprang instantly into attention, and jumped forward into the room.

"Shut up, you!" he flung at Varge. "What's the matter with you, you surly cuss? Shut up—don't answer back! If you can't appreciate a gentleman's kindness in—"

"Perhaps," said Merton hastily, "perhaps I'd better go."

"I guess you might as well," grunted the guard. "They're all alike—you'd only waste your breath." He banged with his cane on the grating, the door behind Varge opened, he nodded to the guard who entered—and the next minute Varge had passed out of sight.

Hysterically, Merton wanted to laugh when they got out into the corridor; his spirits seemed as light as air; he was safe, safe; he could hardly control himself; the