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!" said Herbert, grinning and coughing behind his thin hand. "What did the old girl say when she found it out?" "She never suspected me," said Roy. "She couldn't think I would do such a thing. And I--I lied about it. When she discovered the money was gone and became distressed over its loss, I lied." "You would have been a fool if you'd owned up." "I was a fool to touch a cent of that money, in the first place. I was a fool to listen to your blarney, Rackliff. Just because I was idiot enough to believe in you, I made myself a thief and a liar. Oh, I've been punished for it, all right. Never knew I had a conscience that could make me squirm so much. Some nights I slept mighty mean." "Paugh! You make me laugh. It wasn't anything to take a few paltry dollars like that. You're mother'll never know." "She knows now." "What?" "I told her." "You did?" "Sure." "Well, you are a big chump! What made you do that?" "I had to. You can't understand how rotten I felt when I saw her crying over the loss of that money. I was ashamed and sick--oh, sick as a dog! I made up my mind I'd pay it back, every cent." "And so you can if you'll just get hold of another fiver and bet it on Wyndham." "I've paid it back already, all but fifty cents. Why do you think I stayed out of school to work at any old job I could get? I'm not particularly stuck on work, but I couldn't go on feeling that I was a thief--that I had stolen from my own mother. That's what you brought me to, Rackliff." Herbert sneered. "That's right, blame it all on me and let yourself out entirely. Now let me tell you something, my bucko: it was your over-weening conceit, your jealousy of Springer and Grant, your itching desire to see them get their bumps, that led you, as much as anything else, to bet against Oakdale in that first game. You were sore on Eliot, too, because he didn't put you in to pitch--and you couldn't pitch a little bit. When I bet against Oakdale, I did so on judgment; you did so because of prejudice and spite. Now, don't put on any virtuous frills with me, for I'm not feeling good to-day, and you make me tired." The insolence of the fellow infuriated Hooker, who, nevertheless, knew there was no little truth in what he had been told. Restraining himself with an effort, Roy attempted to retort sarcastically. "So you bet on _judgment_, did you? Well, you must confess your judgment was mighty poor. And
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