Page:Frank Packard - On the Iron at Big Cloud.djvu/282

 you one, Haggerty," he said quietly, "but I am afraid you would misunderstand."

Haggerty shifted a little before the super's look. Somehow, there wasn't any squint at all; instead, behind the glasses, the gray eyes were remarkably bright and clear, and their steadiness was discomposing—to Haggerty.

"It seems," said Hale, a little smile playing around the corners of his mouth, "that they don't measure men by the same standard out West here that they did when we were back on the Penn together, eh?"

Haggerty reddened. His only belief would have been in bluster; but, curiously enough, there was something about this little man, he couldn't tell just what, that made bluster impossible. Therefore, Haggerty held his peace, and his fingers played nervously with the flag, twirling it around and around awkwardly.

"Don't make any mistake, Haggerty," the super continued pleasantly. "I'm not trying to rub it in. I want you to know that I've heard the story. I want you to know that I didn't nose it out. I heard it at the lunch-counter that day after you went out, and before the men there knew who I was. I want to start straight with you, Haggerty."

Haggerty was puzzled and flustered at this opening. "Well, sir," he blurted out, "of course you know it was all a lie. I only did it for a josh."

"Yes, I understand," Hale answered. "In itself it didn't amount to anything, but the consequences are a little more than you reckoned on, aren't they? It's