Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/133

Rh "I wanted to tell you that you're right and I lied to you," Herrick said. "I did trip Ormsby. That's how he got hurt. That's all I wanted to tell you. Now you can go back to your friend." In spite of his confession there was a scornful defiance in his voice.

"I knew you were lying," said Stoddard quietly. "I saw you trip him."

He walked away and rejoined Belmont.

"It will be all over the school in half an hour," Herrick said with bitterness, "and I suppose nobody will believe that I had n't any thought of hurting him. I did n't know it was going to break his leg."

Somehow, at this moment, Harry liked his friend better than he had ever done. There was more than bitterness in Herrick's voice; there was emotion, even a suggestion of tears.

"No, of course you did n't know," Harry said soothingly. "You only lost your head"— "No, I did n't lose my head, either. I did it on purpose. I could n't handle him—and that's the way I thought I'd get even."