“Did what?”
And again the boy shut his lips.
“Listen, Samuel,” pleaded the other. “You know that I am Bertie's cousin. And he's all alone. And I'm responsible for him—”
“Oh, Miss Gladys!” cried the boy. “If you only would try to help him! I meant to ask you—”
“But how can I help him if you keep me in ignorance?”
And so Samuel blurted out the whole story. And Miss Gladys sat dumb with horror. “She killed herself! She killed herself!” she gasped again and again.
“Yes, Miss Gladys,” said Samuel. “And it was awful! You can't imagine it!”
“I read of the suicide in the paper. But I never dreamed of Bertie!”
There was a moment's pause. “It must be a dreadful thing for him to have on his conscience”—began the boy.
“He must have been frightened to death!” said she. And then she added quickly, “Samuel, you haven't told anyone about this!”