"And the Rigour of the Game"-2

"You are wrong about one thing, and you may also be wrong in thinking d**k—in—in what you think about Dick."

The old man darted one lowering look at her, and though she trembled, she welcomed the glance as indicating the success of her red herring.

"What was I wrong about?"

"You were wrong—Mr. Hammond knows d**k is a member of the club. He is a member himself and he insisted d**k should join. That's why he raised his salary."

"A likely story! Who told you that?"

"d**k told me himself."

"And you believed it, of course!" Saunders laughed in a sneering, cynical sort of way and resumed his scrutiny of the clock. The old woman gave up the fight and began to weep silently, hoping, but in vain, to hear the light step of her son approaching the door. The clock struck the hour; the old man rose without a……