“I don’t sleep well,” Storm interrupted shortly. “I wanted to talk things over with you. I’ve been thinking about that trip I proposed taking——”
“Yes?” George urged eagerly as he paused.
“Well, I don’t know but what you are right if I can only pull myself together somehow.” Storm weighed each word with care. “You cannot appreciate what I have been through in the last month or you would realize how desperately I want to get away from all reminders of my—my grief; but if I can fight it without cutting myself adrift and losing my connection with the trust company, it would be foolish to sacrifice such a sinecure, especially when I have nothing else absolutely definite in view.”
He could invent that ‘something else’ easily enough, he reflected as he watched George’s glowing face, when the moment came for departure. Meanwhile, he had decided to play safe; it would not be long! As the words formed in his mind he shuddered involuntarily; that had been Jack Horton’s expression! He had boasted of playing safe in the very hour of his death!
“Of course it would! I knew you would come to your senses, old man!” George cried warmly. “I do realize what you must have suffered, but the only way to forget is to fight it. You—you can count on me, you know!”
Storm nodded.
“I am sure of that.” He paused and added: “About that little fishing trip you suggested; do you think you could get away?”
“Surest thing you know! I’m feeling seedy myself, and it will do us both good. Shall we ask Millard to join us?”
“Heavens, no! He is an infernal nuisance!” Storm exclaimed hastily. Through the long night hours he had planned his trip for the express purpose of keeping George and his inconvenient theories away from the too loquacious disseminator of news from Headquarters. “I only want you, George. How soon do you think you can get away?”
In secret distaste he watched the other’s puppy-like wriggle of affectionate gratification at this mark of favor. What a fool he had been to fear him! Yet there might still be a chance for George to suspect, and if he did he would not rest until he had ferreted out the truth.