Between Friends

"Is that any of your damned business?"

"She's only a child--"

"You rat! That's what's coming to you!"

"If you say so. But what is coming to her, Drene?"

"Continue to guess. But I know you. It's yourself you're sorry for

and what you'll have to endure--live through. That's what you can't

stand, and remain the sleek, self-satisfied rat you are. No, it will

make earth a living hell for you; never a second, day or night, will

you be able to forget--if you really do love her. . . . And I

believe you do--I don't understand how a thing like you can

love--but it seems it can."

After a silence Graylock said: "You don't care if you damn

yourself?"

"It's worth it to me."

"Are you willing that I should know you are as great a blackguard as

I am?" Drene's gaunt features reddened and he set his jaws in

silence.

"Don't you care what you do to her?" asked Graylock, unsteadily.

"It's a viler business than that for which you are punishing me."

For a long time Drene sat there looking down at the weapon on his

knees. And after a while, the other man spoke huskily: "It's bad

enough either way for me, Drene. I'll do what you wish in the

matter. I'll leave the country; I'll stay; whichever you say. Or,"

he said with a ghastly smile, "I'll clean out that automatic for you

to-night--if you'll marry her."

Drene looked up, slowly: "What did you say?"

"I said that I'd clean out your automatic for you--to-night--if you

wish. . . . It can be an accident or not, just as you say."

"Where?"

"In my own rooms--if it is to be an accident."

"Do you offer--"

"Yes; if you'll marry her afterwards. If you say you will I'll take

your word."

"And then you'll be out of your misery, you damned coward!"

"God knows. . . . But I think not," said Graylock, under his

breath.

Drene twisted the automatic, rose and continued to twirl it,

considering. Presently he began to pace the floor, no longer

noticing the other man. Once his promenade brought him up facing the

wall where a calendar hung.

He stood for a while looking at it absently. After a few moments he

stepped nearer, detached the sheet for the present month, then one

by one tore off the remaining sheets until he came to the month

marked December, Graylock watching him all the while.