VII.
Tim Short made a very wretched attempt to obtain a night's sleep after escaping from captivity, both because the night was well spent before he reached home and because matters of too great importance rested upon his mind to allow him to bury them in slumber.
He reported at the factory at the usual morning hour, but after working a little time complained of being sick, and was released for the remainder of the day. If he was not physically ill, he was doubtless sick at heart, so he speedily sought Matthew, and told him, with more or less ill feeling, of his experience at the hands of Jacob Simmons, and of the latter's demands in settlement (as he called it) for his injuries.
"And you 'squealed' on me?" demanded De Vere, with ill suppressed anger.
"I told him who you were, to save him from choking me to death."
"Is that all you said?"
"He told me to tell the truth or——"
"So you gave him the whole story—you idiot, to tell everything you know!"