The Borough Treasurer

ance to some castellated mansion or manor house, gave access to a square yard, flanked about by equally ancient buildings. What those buildings had

rey buildings were filled to overflowing with all the things that go towards making a house-ironwork, zinc, lead, tiles, great coils of piping, stores of domestic app

ntages to Cotherstone, who was more concerned with the book-keeping and letter-writing side of the business than with its actual work. He was a big, fleshy man, Mallalieu, midway between fifty and sixty, of a large, solemn, well-satisfied countenance, small, sly eyes, and an expression of steady watchfulness; his attire was always of the eminently respectable sort, his linen fresh and glossy; t

s saying. "One pull at that pin releases the entire lo

eu's junior he looked older, and the thin hair at his temples was already whitening. Mallalieu suggested solidity and almost bovine sleekness; in Cotherstone, activity of speech and gesture

ea. But if it's to be patented, you know, we ought t

d Mallalieu, good-humouredly. "You might consider about get

ponded Cotherstone. "I

ble chain and glanced at its jewelled dial. "Dear me!" he exclaimed. "Four o'clock-I've

new carts, glanced at some papers in his hand and went over to a consignment of goods which r

rent, sir," he announced. "H

e. "Take him into the private office, Stone

unting-house near the gateway. There he bustled into a room kept sacred to himself and Mallalieu, with a cheery g

s glad to see anybody with a bit of money, eh? Take a chair,

ression. He was an elderly, clean-shaven, grey-haired man, spare of figure, dressed in rusty black; a wisp of white neckcloth at his throat gave him something of a clerical

eed of a bit of money, Mr. Cotherstone," he said

ipt, Mr. Kitely," he went on, seating himself at his desk and taking up a book of forms. "Let's see-twe

took the receipt, and nodded his head, still watchin

he said. "I s

he room, watched him mix the drinks, and took his own with no more than a polite nod of thanks. And Cotherstone, murm

ing at the house, Mr

ely, "no, I can't

turn, in his manner, and Cotherstone

you've had a spell of it?" he inquire

replied Kitely. "Quiet-pea

rprised. "Me?-why, I've had-yes

his glass and set it down. He

your partner, both. Yes-it'll be just about thirty

ire, suddenly sat straight up in his chair. His face, always sharp see

hat?" he

lalieu," replied Kitely. "As I say

ss. Then he slowly rose, walked over to the door, looked at it to see t

you mean?

a dry laugh. "It's thirty years since I

emanded Co

. And Cotherstone sat down-trembling. Hi

nding close to Cotherstone. "I'll tell yo

ose to his own-as if it had been the face of a man resurrected from the grave. Within him there was a feeling of extraordinary physical sickness; it was quickly followed by one of inertia, jus

I knew you when I first came here-then I had a feeling that I knew Mallalieu. And-in time-I remembered-eve

e thin fingers which lay on his sleeve. His pale face

d in a low, concentrat

his head and

in you. Who am I? Well, if you really want to know, I've been

!" exclaimed

now, I often was curious as to what became of you both! But I never dreamed of meeting you-here. Of course, y

ad taken up a position on the hearthrug, his back to the fire, his hands in his pock

ess. Well, you've done all this on the straight, anyhow. And you've done well, too. Odd, isn't it, that I should come to live down here, right away in the far North of England, and find you in such good circumstances,

y more to say?"

ook no notice of Cotherstone's question, and presently, as if he were amusing hi

, while you were doing your time. Let's see-it was a Building Society that you defrauded, wasn't i

qually sudden change of attitude and expression on the part of the ex-detective

e the life out of me in your own office, can you? You couldn't hide my old carcase as easily as you and Mal

one took a turn or two about the room, trying to steady himself.

-I know! Just consider what I do know. Consider, too, what you stand to lose. There's Mallalieu, so much respected that he's Mayor of this ancient borough for the second time. There's you-so much tru

stakable groan of sheer torture.

he said. "A young fellow with a career before him. Do you think he'd marry her

ed you once before if you'd any more to say-now I'll put it in another fashion. For I s

an't, run away. Time enough-I've the whip hand. Tell your partner, the Mayor, all I've told you-then yo

this to a soul?" aske

Well-now you know. I'll come in here again tomorrow after

ts remaining contents, and without a word of