"I can't argue it down," he finished. "I've tried to, desperately. It's
a--I think it's a wicked thing, in a way. And God knows all she ever got
out of it was suffering. She must loathe the thought of me."
David was compelled to let it rest there. He found that Dick was
doggedly determined to see Beverly Carlysle. After that, he didn't know.
No man wanted to surrender himself for trial, unless he was sure
himself of whether he was innocent or guilty. If there was a reasonable
doubt--but what did it matter one way or the other? His place was gone,
as he'd made it, gone if he was cleared, gone if he was convicted.
"I can't come back, David. They wouldn't have me."
After a silence he asked: "How much is known here? What does Elizabeth know?"
"The town knows nothing. She knows a part of it. She cares a great deal,
Dick. It's a tragedy for her."
"Shall you tell her I have been here?"
"Not unless you intend to see her."
But Dick shook his head.
"Even if other things were the same I haven't a right to see her, until
I've got a clean slate."
"That's sheer evasion," David said, almost with irritation.
"Yes," Dick acknowledged gravely. "It is sheer evasion."
"What about the police?" he inquired after a silence. "I was registered
at Norada. I suppose they traced me?"
"Yes. The house was watched for a while; I understand they've given it
up now."
In response to questions about his own condition David was almost
querulous. He was all right. He would get well if they'd let him, and
stop coddling him. He would get up now, in spite of them. He was good
for one more fight before he died, and he intended to make it, in a
court if necessary.
"They can't prove it, Dick," he said triumphantly. "I've been over it
every day for months. There is no case. There never was a case, for that
matter. They're a lot of pin-headed fools, and we'll show them up, boy.
We'll show them up."
But for all his excitement fatigue was telling on him. Lucy tapped at
the door and came in.
"You'd better have your supper before it spoils," she said. "And David
needs a rest. Doctor Reynolds is in the office. I haven't told him yet."
The two men exchanged glances.
"Time for that later," David said. "I can't keep him out of my office,
but I can out of my family affairs for an hour or so."