Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/197

 I got Steve Hoyle to take me in. I knew what I was doing. I was a headstrong fool."

"Because you've been a fool is no reason why you should keep it up. Don't talk any more nonsense. Hurry—put your clothes back in that trunk—you must catch this train."

"No!" was the dogged answer.

John put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"You must do it for me, Billy. I'm trying to make good my failure. I ought to have been both father and mother to you. I was neither—I didn't know how—forgive me! I let you slip away. It seems to me now it would have been very easy for me to have taken you by the hand, and with a jolly word or two and a little pains and a little friendly comradeship, I could have kept you out of trouble. I'm heartsick over it, boy. You must let me atone in this way. You can do no good by staying. You'll be in the way when trouble comes. You'll promise me now, because I ask you—won't you?"

The boy choked back a sob.

"I'll go on one condition"

"Well?"

"If you get in trouble about this thing, that you'll let me know."

John grasped his hand:

"I promise you."