As he withdrew Mary turned to Herbert and then suddenly gave a terrible scream.
“Why, what’s the matter, Mary?” he cried anxiously, rushing over to her.
“Oh that, that!” she exclaimed, pointing to his right hand, which was now almost covered with blood; “you have been shot. You are wounded.”
Herbert, who had forgotten his slight injury, looked down at his discolored hand and gave a laugh.
“Oh, that’s nothing,” he cried; “if you will get me a little hot water and a bandage, I think we can straighten that out in short order.”
She proceeded to do this, bustling about with much intelligence and vivacity. The wound was dressed and she was in the act of binding it up when Mr. and Mrs. Black returned. They were amazed to see Herbert Harkins there, and still more thunderstruck when they learned the story of the attempted robbery. John Black was grateful, but he shook his head as he said to Herbert:
“You should not have released the man. He is a menace to society, and may attempt the same crime against other citizens.”
“I disagree with you, father. Herbert was right. He might have been mistaken, but he was merciful and that after all means much in this unfeeling world.”
Herbert was delighted at such praise, and bidding her good-night stooped down and kissed her hand in the chivalrous manner of a gentleman of the old school.
The act appeared to please the girl, for her face crimsoned and stooping down, she picked up his wounded hand and gave it a kiss.
“You deserve it,” she said impulsively, “because you have acted the part of a hero.”
CHAPTER XXIII IN WHICH A BAD MAN REACHES THE END OF HIS ROPE
Herbert walked home from the Black residence that night. He did not care to ride. He wanted to have the opportunity to think over the exciting incidents of the last hour, and felt that he could not do so with any satisfaction to himself unless he was alone. The clocks were striking one o’clock in the morning when he finally reached his lodgings. The gas was burning in the little sitting room, and Tomlin was there in an attitude of expectancy.
“Well?” he said, with a questioning look. “What was the result of your adventure?”
Herbert’s jaw fell. It suddenly dawned upon him that he was once more placed in the attitude of a delinquent. He had unconsciously forgotten all about Tomlin and the fact that he was supposed to be out on an assignment. The thought mortified him very much. He looked into Tomlin’s clear eyes, and what he saw there prompted him to be candid. There was no use in attempting to beat about the bush; he would tell the truth and tell it as simply as possible; so he sat down and related all that had occurred from the time he left Tomlin early in the evening until the present moment. Only upon one phase of the story did he attempt any disguise, and that was when he related the threat which had been hurled at him by the burglar. He told his friend that a person who was very dear to Mary Black was in Adler’s power, and that the robber had threatened to expose this person and involve him in disgrace if he was not given an immediate release. When Herbert had concluded his narrative, Tomlin leaned back in his chair and gave vent to a hearty laugh. Herbert could not understand the cause of his mirth, and said so. Tomlin laughed again, and then said: