"It was Bud M'Ginnis, and for once it seems he told the truth!"
"Bud!" cried Spike, stumbling to his feet. "Oh, my God!" At sound of his voice she turned, and seeing his face, cried out in sudden fear: "Arthur—oh, Arthur, what is it?"
"Bud told ye?" he gasped. "Wasn't it Geoff—oh, wasn't it Geoff?"
"No!"
Spike was down on his knees. "Oh, God! Oh, Geoff—dear old Geoff, forgive me!" He was huddled upon the floor, his face pressed to the worn rug, his clenched fingers buried in his curls, while from his lips issued gasping sobs harshly dry and awful to hear.
"Forgive me, Geoff, forgive me! I thought you told her! I thought you meant t' steal her from me! Oh, forgive me, Geoff—I wish I was dead like you."
"Arthur!"
She was down beside him on her knees, shaking him with desperate hands.
"Arthur! Arthur! What—are you saying?"
"Nothin'—nothin'!" he stammered, staring up into her face, suddenly afraid of her. "Nothin', I—I was only—thinkin'—I—"