The Odds

sight of him, then quick

all right for the night?" she sai

er. He faced her with a certain rigi

y shut behind her. Robin came and pressed close to her, as if he divined that she stood in need of some

ant to say to

thing, Miss Burton," he said, "when I am more than half

de up of that sort of thing," she said. "It's like a great puzzle

were quivering. The man

you're unhap

at I must get away-go and earn my own

" said Fletcher Hill. "

aised to his. "Do you know what

ly, almost sternly. "He

ed again

to her abruptly. "I w

rds him. "That is what yo

" sai

d not take his hand, bent with a ce

it for year

he held it closely-she suffered him to keep it. She spoke with an effort. "I-think you ought to understand that-that-i

" said Hill.

ught to be able to manage alone. It's very kind of you to

only obstacle

he turned her face quickly aside. "I can't tell you-of

much?" he suggested dryly. "W

rned back to him. "Let's walk a little way together, shal

side over the close-cropped grass. Dot would h

ore she spoke again, and then her

er been anyone else. It wouldn't be right.

that a long time

always see everything, don'

ith my eyes shut, c

her you knew about it. Only"-her voice qui

u would rather I

cision. "You've got to k

g to be married

whisper

drew the nervous little hand he held through his arm. "Well

was quick fear in the look she th

g I couldn't have told him ages before. I knew from the begin

om head to foot

uld have caught him but for that. I'd got him-I'd got him in the hollow of my hand. But you"-for the first time there was a streak of tenderness

I was very frightened, too. I

He also was g

ed anything for him that day. He

nced a

l, but I believe he was always courteous when he had time. And he promised to come back, didn't he-when he'd given up being a thief and a swindler and had tu

ttle smile. "He-he'd be worth havin

er," sa

hand upon her shoulder with a touch that se

self more satisfactory to live with. It's for you to decide. Only-it s

ut that steady hand away from her, but she felt physically incapable of doi

to ask a question to which she had long desire

Anyway, he found this district too hot to hold him, for he never br

olding her before him, one hand on her shoulder, th

"It's going to be

she shivered as if an icy blast had caught her.

se!" sa

he was shaking from head to foot. She beg

. I'll take care of you. I'll make you h

r nature than she had ever seen before. Almost in spite of herse

to you," she mu

affair,"

id not seek to raise it; but there was undo

again. "What will you do if-if y

letcher Hill. He added, under his bre

impulsively. "You-you are much nicer

," he said, with a somewhat sardonic touch of humou

thed him like a coat of mail was more than even he could break through. But so it was that then-just then, when the desire of his heart was actually within his grasp, he contented himself with

mall and very forlorn. Then s

go back?

ached the gate that led into the yard. Then f

es?'" he

cence, not looking at him. "

cher let