“Is that all you have to say to me, Mr. Blakeley?” and receiving no answer, he went on, “If it is, I will leave you. There is no need of any further conversation between us.”
At this point Blakeley arose with a smile on his face that seemed to stretch almost from ear to ear. His eyes were sparkling with good nature, and going over to Herbert he took his hand and wrung it heartily.
“You are all right, my boy; you are pure gold. I don’t propose to let you get out of here again. I need you in my business.”
Herbert was plainly puzzled at this demonstration, and said so at once.
“I don’t know why you should be so pleased, Mr. Blakeley. I have declined to answer your query.”
“That’s just it,” he said; “it demonstrates what I have always believed, that you wouldn’t betray a confidence. However a kind friend has already done that for you.”
Herbert’s eyes expressed the surprise he felt. Before he could make any reply a door in the rear of Mr. Blakeley’s office opened suddenly, and Arthur Black appeared upon the scene. Herbert gasped for breath. He was too much amazed to speak to the young man. Blakeley spared him that trouble by saying:
“Now, Mr. Black, we are all together; tell me once again the story that you were good enough to relate to me early in the afternoon.”
“The story is soon told,” said Arthur, with a firmness in his voice and a dignity in his manner that Herbert had never noticed before; “I come here to do a tardy act of justice to one of the manliest persons I have ever known. Mr. Blakeley, as I have already told you, I was foolish enough and despicable enough to engage in, or rather to permit myself to be used in a swindling game that was being conducted in this city some time ago. Herbert Harkins ran that story out for the Argus and was prepared to make an arrest of one of those who were engaged in the game; but when he discovered that I was implicated in it he permitted me to escape, and as a result of that act of generosity, lost a good story and forfeited his position on the Argus.
“I left the city immediately after that incident occurred,” continued Arthur, “and went to a little town in Connecticut, where I endeavored to make a new man of myself. I think I have partially succeeded. I am not going to stop till I succeed entirely; but only a week ago I learned of the misfortune which had happened to Herbert Harkins through his effort to shield me and my family from disgrace. I have not been able to rest at night since I learned this news. Finally I could stand it no longer, and I came here to tell you the truth and the simple truth. Herbert did throw the Argus down on its good story, but he did so for my sake and the sake of my father and mother and sister. I am here now not only to admit this, but to throw myself on your mercy. If you think the ends of justice have not already been served, I am willing to submit to arrest and imprisonment. The punishment will be a severe one, but probably not more than I deserve. In any event I hope to restore Herbert Harkins to your esteem, if not to the position he formerly occupied on this paper.”