Page:Frank Packard - Greater Love Hath No Man.djvu/211

 injured tone. "But, pshaw, I could tap a man as hard as that myself! Heart wasn't in it, eh? That's it, eh—what?"

Briggs, with a glance at his master as though to confirm his own conclusions, was sniffing now at Varge in more friendly fashion, and suddenly put up his paw. Varge, stooping to pat the glossy brown head, made no answer to the doctor.

"Hum!" said Doctor Kreelmar. "So you made a break for it at last. I've been kind of expecting you to do it. I've an idea it's what I would be tempted to do myself if I were an innocent man shut up in there."

Varge pulled at the silky ears and rubbed the dog's muzzle.

"I said if I were an innocent man!" rapped out the choleric little fellow, promptly irascible at failing to draw Varge out.

"I heard you," said Varge, without lifting his head. "I haven't that justification—I am not an innocent man."

"Then I hope they catch you!" announced Doctor Kreelmar, with sudden calmness and equanimity. "If you're guilty, I hope to the Lord they catch you, 'pon my soul I do! And they will," he continued complacently. "They always do. There's been four breaks since I've been at the prison and they nabbed every one of the four. All four of 'em headed north for the Canadian line, trying to make Canucks out of themselves. Fool thing to do, damned fool thing to do—that's the first place they're looked for. If a man is looking for a ghost of a chance to make his escape, why doesn't he hit south, keep away from the big places and, most