TO-MORROW
Page: 16

"Owns both them rabbit-hutches, does he?"
commented young Hagberd, scornfully; "just the
thing he would be proud of. Can you tell me who's
that chap coming to-morrow? You must know
something of it. I tell you, it's a swindle on the old
man--nothing else."

She did not answer, helpless before an insur-
mountable difficulty, appalled before the necessity,
the impossibility and the dread of an explanation
in which she and madness seemed involved together.

"Oh--I am so sorry," she murmured.

"What's the matter?" he said, with serenity.
"You needn't be afraid of upsetting me. It's the
other fellow that'll be upset when he least expects
it. I don't care a hang; but there will be some fun
when he shows his mug to-morrow. I don't care
THAT for the old man's pieces, but right is right.
You shall see me put a head on that coon--whoever
he is!"

He had come nearer, and towered above her on
the other side of the railings. He glanced at her
hands. He fancied she was trembling, and it oc-
curred to him that she had her part perhaps in that
little game that was to be sprung on his old man
to-morrow. He had come just in time to spoil their
sport. He was entertained by the idea--scornful
of the baffled plot. But all his life he had been full
of indulgence for all sorts of women's tricks. She
really was trembling very much; her wrap had
slipped off her head. "Poor devil!" he thought.
"Never mind about that chap. I daresay he'll
change his mind before to-morrow. But what
about me? I can't loaf about the gate til the morn-
ing."

She burst out: "It is YOU--you yourself that he's
waiting for. It is YOU who come to-morrow."

He murmured. "Oh! It's me!" blankly, and
they seemed to become breathless together. Ap-
parently he was pondering over what he had heard;
then, without irritation, but evidently perplexed,
he said: "I don't understand. I hadn't written or
anything. It's my chum who saw the paper and
told me--this very morning. . . . Eh? what?"

He bent his ear; she whispered rapidly, and he
listened for a while, muttering the words "yes"
and "I see" at times. Then, "But why won't to-