Sam laughed, but it was a forced laugh and unconvincing.
“I guess this room’s pretty warm,” said he, and got upon his feet. “I’ll have to be going. You’ll be out, I suppose, in a day or two?”
“Yes. But if you meet Orkney, tell him to come to see me. You wouldn’t mind taking the message, would you? Of course, I know he hasn’t been pals with your crowd, but after all that’s happened——”
“If I should see Tom Orkney I’d be only too glad to deliver your message,” said Sam heavily.
Another link in that famous chain had been fractured. By the testimony of the best possible witness Orkney had not imperiled Little Perrine’s life by driving him upon the thin ice; but, on the contrary, had risked his own to protect the younger and frailer boy.
With dragging step Sam went back to Lon Gates.
“I might as well speak plainly, Lon,” he said. “I’m all unsettled in my ideas.”
Lon regarded him keenly. “So? Ain’t that Orkney the all-round cut-up you thought he was?”
“I—I guess I’ll have to take back some of the things I said.”
“So?” Lon repeated.