He who served

by Ray Cummings

Higgins whispered protests were vehement, but Toory hardly heard them.

"Higgins," Toory said.

"Higgins ordered you? Where is he now, Toory?"

"He is here beside me, Miss Babs."

Higgins cursed bitterly, and stepped out into the moonlight. "I—I didn't tell him to come out, Miss Babs!" he said.

"Oh—so you're here, Higgins?" The blind girl's voice sounded startled. Toory could see them standing together on the garden path, the moonlight pallid on Higgins' frightened face.

"I came out to get the blarsted thing," Higgins said quickly. "I saw him out here, and thought I'd have a go at getting him back."

"You couldn't have made a mistake, Toory?" Babs said. "Answer me carefully now. Why did you come out?"

"He told me to obey him," Toory said. "He told me to go, and open the front door quietly."

"So you ordered him out," Babs said. "I can't understand this, Higgins. What possible reason—"