Page 84 (2/2)

If Dick would say nothing, he, Norris, et hold of a vast amount of

information that people flatter therinned The girl turned slowly from her

amused survey of Dick to study Ellery's face, which showed his

discoentle could feel scorn, Ellery

would have thought he detected a touch of it Certainly there was a hint

of grieved surprise as she spoke, with her eyes still fixed on Norris

"I'm very sorry, Dick," she said hurown so used to asking you about everything Mr Norris ought to

get a better rew hotter He wondered if she

suspected him of some underhand trickery, and Dick realized it, yet kept

amused silence For an instant he hated Dick, and felt a wild ihts came quickly She loved Dick and was

therefore slow to impute evil to him Dick loved her, and if he had for

once played the petty knave, it was the place of a friend to protect her

against that knowledge That had been the instinctive reason for Norris'

words, and he was not going back on them now Yet Ellery's brain whirled

to think hoiftly and by what si friendship into the ination piled

superlatives on every act and expression of his lady If she looked

light disapproval, it orse than another's scorn And Dick--for

who he aily: "Don't be suspicious, Madeline Are all secrets disgraceful? Can't you

trust your old friends?"