"But—but—I—" he stammered, disconcerted. He stepped toward her, half desperate. "It's the truth, I tell you, the solemn truth! I'll swear to it! It was there, right at my desk. You see the maps, torn when he dragged me across—by the throat! Look here at my neck—at the marks of his fingers!"
"You're in luck. He had good cause to break your neck," commented Mr.
Leslie.
"Herbert!" reproved Mrs. Gantry, greatly shocked.
"Papa! Papa!" urged Genevieve, running to grasp her father's arm. "You can't believe him! If Tom said the bridge was in danger—We stand here doing nothing! Send some one! If the bridge should fall—"
"Fall?" sneered Ashton. "I tell you it's safe, safe as a rock. Look for yourselves. It's still standing."
"Then he has saved it," snapped Mr. Leslie. "He's saved my bridge—his bridge! While you, you skulking thief—"
Ashton cringed back as if struck. But Genevieve dragged her father about from him. "Don't mind him, papa! What does that matter now? Send some one at once!"
"They're all out on the bridge already," he replied. "There's no one to send. Wait! I'll go myself!"
"Oh! Oh! The train has started on shore again—it's coming clear off
the bridge!" cried Dolores. "It stopped part way, near this end.
They'll be on it, they'll surely be on it. Yes, yes! There he is!
There's Jimmy!"
She flung up a window-sash and leaned far out, waving her handkerchief.
Her mother turned to Genevieve, who stood as if dazed.