Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/81

 me without a cent and you're the best friend I've got in the world. It's my turn now. Nobody would miss me."

"I'd miss you, Dan!" said John slowly.

The two men silently clasped hands and looked into each other's faces.

"You're a fool to do this, boy"—the mountaineer's voice broke.

"Of course, Dan, many of our old-fashioned ways are foolish but at least they hold the honour of man, and the virtue of woman dearer than human life!"

A boy suddenly opened the door without knocking and handed John a note.

He read it aloud with a scowl:

"Now, by gum, you'll have to leave 'im to me," laughed the mountaineer.

John tore the note into bits and turned to the boy:

"No answer, you can go."

"He'll pick you off some night from behind a tree," warned Dan.

"Sneak and coward!" muttered John.