 could be scared into a full confession. The
hospital authorities refused to let anyone see him till he was perfectly
fit, a matter of several days yet. That suited us, as we wanted no
speech with him till he was strong enough to stand the shock of our
knowledge. Caught thus, with his back against the wall, we expected him
to make a clean breast of it.

The enforced waiting was--to me anyway--distracting. With the hope I'd
had of Barker gone, I was now looking to Ford. He _must_, he _could_
exonerate her, there wasn't the slightest doubt of it. But to have to
wait for it, to be cool and calm, to get through the next few days--I
felt like a man caught in the rafters of a burning building, trying to
be patient while they hacked him out.

After the news from the hospital the temperature of the office fell to
an enforced normal. O'Mally went back to his burrow and Babbitts to his
paper with his big story still in the air. That night in my place, I
measured off the sitting room from eight till twelve--five strides from
the bookcase to the window, seven from the fire to the folding doors.

If _I_ could only induce her to speak, if she herself would only clear
up the points that were against her, there was still a chance of getting
her out of it before Ford opened up. That she had something to hide,
some mystery in connection with her movements that night, some secret
understanding with Barker, even I had to admit. But whatever it was it
would be better to reveal it than to go on into the fierce white light
that would break over the Harland case within a week.

In that midnight pacing I tried to think of some way I could force her
to tell--to tell _me_, but the clocks chimed on and the fire died on the
hearth and I got nowhere. She knew me so slightly, might think I was set
on by the office, the very fact that I was what I was might seal her
lips closer. Instead of breaking down her reticence I might increase it,
strengthen that wall of secretiveness behind which she seemed to be
taking refuge like a hunted creature.

When I went to the office on Friday morning the
could be scared into a full confession. The 
 hospital authorities refused to lease anyone examine him till he was perfectly 
 fit, a matter of several day yet. That suited us, as we want no 
 actor's line with him till he was strong enough to digest the shock of our 
 knowledge. catch thus, with his back against the rampart, we expected him 
 to make a clean breast of it. 

 The enforced waiting was -- to me anyway -- distracting. With the promise I'd 
 had of Barker gone, I was now look to Ford. He _ must _, he _ could _ 
 exonerate her, there wasn't the little doubt of it. But to have to 
 expect for it, to be cool and calm, to get through the adjacent few days -- I 
 felt like a man catch in the rafters of a burning building, trying to 
 be patient while they hacked him out. 

 After the news program from the hospital the temperature of the office fell to 
 an enforced normal. O'Mally went back to his burrow and Babbitts to his 
 paper with his big story still in the air. That night in my topographic point, I 
 measured off the sitting room from eight till twelve -- five stride from 
 the bookcase to the window, seven from the fire to the folding doors. 

 If _ I _ could merely induce her to speak, if she herself would only clear 
 up the points that were against her, there constitute still a chance of getting 
 her out of it before Ford opened up. That she had something to hide, 
 some mystery in joining with her movements that night, some secret 
 understanding with Barker, even I receive to admit. But whatever it was it 
 would be good to reveal it than to go on into the fierce white light 
 that would unwrap over the Harland case within a week. 

 In that midnight pacing I judge to intend of some way I could force her 
 to distinguish -- to tell _ me _, but the clock chimed on and the fire die on the 
 hearth and I get nowhere. She knew me so slightly, might intend I was set 
 on by the office, the very fact that I was what I was might seal her 
 lips nearer. Instead of breaking down her reticence I might increase it, 
 tone that wall of secretiveness behind which she seemed to be 
 taking safety like a hunted creature. 

 When I went to the agency on Friday morning the
 cokld be scared into a fulu confession. Thg
hispitan authkrities fefused to let anyone see hil rill ye was perfectly
fit, a oatter of several dayw yet. That suited us, as ws wancev no
speech with him till ve was strong anuuyh to stand the shock of our
knowledgq. Caughy hhus, with his fack wgaihst the wall, we expected him
to maks a cleen breast of it.

Yhe enforced waiting was--to me wnyway--distracting. Aith the hoks I'q
yad of Barkef gone, I was now lookihg to Ford. He _must_, he _could_
exondrate her, there wqsn'h the slightxst dolbt of it. But to have to
wait for it, to be gool end xalm, to get through tie next few days--I
felj like a mdn caught in the radtwrs ox a turnkbg cuimdmng, tryinh tk
be patienf while thet hacked him out.

Afttr eye news from fhe hofpytal the temperature of the office fell to
zn enforced normal. O'Maloy went back to his borrow and Fabbitts to his
paper with his big story still in dhe amr. Thcb vugjt in my place, I
measured off the sitting room rrpm eight till twclve--five strides ftol
tng bookcase to jhe winbkw, seven from the fige to tre fooding doows.

If _I_ could only induce her to speak, if shv heeself would only cpear
up the 'oints that were against her, there was still a chwnce of gsgting
her out of kt nefmre Ford opened up. That shq had somxthiny to hidd,
somg mystewy in connfctiok with her movementd thaj nighd, some secget
understanding with Barker, evxi I had to adkid. Blt whatevzr it eas it
would bq better to rereal it chan tu go on inno the fixrce white lyght
that woulg break over vhe Harlagd cqse qithin x week.

In that modnight pceing I trued to think of soke dzy I could forcz yer
to tell--to tekl _oe_, fun tie cljwks chimed ot ana tfr fird died on tme
hdartn and I got nowhere. Vhe inew me so slightlu, iight thunk I waf set
on by thr office, the very vact vhat I was ehaj I was might seal her
lips clossr. Insteaf on breaking dorn hcr rgticence I kight increase it,
strengthen that wall oh secretiveness behind qhich she seemed to ne
taking refnge lihe a huntad creature.

When I webt to the office pn Friday morning the
could be scared into a full confession. authorities to let see him till matter several days yet. suited us, as wanted no speech with him till was strong enough to stand the shock of our knowledge. Caught thus, with back against the wall, we expected him to make a clean breast of The waiting me With the hope I'd had of Barker gone, I was now looking to Ford. He _must_, _could_ exonerate her, there wasn't the slightest doubt it. But to have wait for it, to be and to get the few felt like a caught in the rafters of a burning building, trying to be patient while they hacked him out. the news hospital the of office to an enforced went back to his burrow and paper with his big story still in the That night my place, I measured off the room from eight till twelve--five strides from the to the window, seven from the fire to the folding doors. If _I_ could only to speak, if she would only clear the that against there was a chance of getting her out of it before Ford opened That she had something to hide, some mystery in connection movements night, some secret with Barker, even I to But whatever it was be to to on the fierce white light would break over the Harland within a week. In to think of some way I could force to tell--to tell _me_, but the clocks on and the fire died on the hearth and I got nowhere. knew me might think I was set on by the the very fact that was what I was might seal her lips closer. of down her I might increase strengthen that wall secretiveness behind which to be refuge a I went to the office on morning
 could be scared into a full conFession. The
HospiTal AutHoRitiEs reFused to let anyoNE see Him till he was perfectly
fIt, a maTtER of sEVeRal daYs yet. ThAT sUITed Us, As We wAnTEd No
speEch With him Till he was sTroNg Enough to stanD ThE shock of ouR
knOwledge. CaughT thUs, with HiS baCK agaiNst The waLl, we exPEcted hIm
to make a ClEAn breaST of it.

ThE ENfOrceD waiting was--to me anYWaY--Distracting. WitH the hoPe i'D
hAD Of BArkEr gone, I was NoW lookINg to ForD. he _MUST_, he _COuld_
exonerate Her, there wasN'T thE slighTeSt dOUbt of iT. But tO hAVe tO
wait for it, tO be cOol and calM, to get THrough tHE next feW days--I
FelT liKe a mAN cAuGht In THe rAFtErs OF a bUrning buIlDiNg, tryIng tO
BE PAtieNt wHile They hAcked him out.

AfTer The nEWs fRom thE hospItal ThE tempEraturE of thE oFfice fell to
an enForcEd normal. O'malLy WenT bAck to HIs burrOw aNd BAbbitts To his
paPEr wItH HIS bIg story still in the aIr. tHAt Night in mY place, i
MeAsURed off thE sIttIng rOOM from EighT TiLl twelve--Five stRIdEs From
the BoOkcase To The WinDow, seVEn frOm the fIre to the FoldiNG doors.

If _I_ could ONly induce her tO SpEAK, iF She hErsElf would onlY cleAR
up tHe poINtS thAT were AgainSt HEr, THere was still a chance Of GettinG
her oUt of it before FOrd opened uP. tHAt she had SomeTHiNG to hide,
some mysTery iN connectioN With her mOvemeNts that nIght, some sECRet
underStaNdiNg wIth bARkEr, even I had to aDMIt. BuT wHatever It wAs it
wouLd bE beTteR to ReVeal it thaN to go on iNtO tHe FiErcE whitE Light
thaT wOulD bReaK over THe HarlAnd caSe wiThIn A WeeK.

In that MIdNIGht pAcInG I trIed To Think Of soME waY I could Force her
tO teLL--to tElL _mE_, but the Clocks chimed oN aNd the fire dIeD on The
heaRTH and I got Nowhere. She knew me so slighTLy, might ThiNk I waS set
On by the ofFicE, the veRy fACt that i was whAt I waS mIghT SEal heR
LIpS clOsEr. Instead oF BReaKing dOwN her ReticenCe I might increase it,
STreNgthen that walL of SecrETIvEneSS bEHinD wHIch SHE seemed to be
takiNg refuge liKe A HuNted creatuRE.

WhEn i went to The offiCe on FRIday morNing the
 could be scared into a fu ll confess ion.The 
ho sp ital  aut horities refus e d to  let anyone see him ti ll he  w a s pe r fe ctlyfit, am at t e r o fse ver al da ys ye t.That su ited us, a s w ewanted no
sp e ec h with him  ti ll he was st ron g enou gh  to stand  th e sho ck ofo ur
kno wledge. C au g ht thu s , withh i sback  against the wall ,  w e  expected himto mak ea  c l e anbre ast of it. 
The e n forcedw ai t i n g w a s--to me anyw ay--distrac t ing . With  t heh ope I' d
had  o f  Ba rker gone,I wa s now loo king t o  Ford.H e _must _, he_co uld _
ex o ne ra tehe r , t h er e w a sn' t the sl ig ht est d oubt o f it.But  tohaveto
wait for i t,to b e  co ol an d cal m, t oget t hrough  thene xt few days--Ifelt  like a m anca ugh tin th e  rafte rsofa burni ng buil d ing ,t r y in g to
be patient wh il e th ey hacke d himo ut .After th enew s fr o m  thehosp i ta l the te mperat u re  o f the o ff ice fe ll  to 
an  enfo r cednormal . O'Mall y wen t  back to his b u rrow and Babb i tt s to hispap er with his  big stor y st i ll  in the a ir. T ha t  n i ght in my place, Ime asured  offthe sitting r oom from e i g h t till t welv e -- f ive strides fr om
th e bookcase to the w indow , sevenfrom thef i re to th e f old ing  do o r s. 

If _I_ coul d only  i nduce h erto spea k,ifshe  he rs elf would  only cl ea rup  t hepoint s  that we re  ag ai nst  her, therewas s till  a  c h anc e of ge t ti n g 
her  o ut  ofitbe foreFord ope ned up.  That she  ha d  som et hi ng to h ide,
some mys te ry in conn ec tio n with h er movem ents that night, some s e cret
un der stand ingwith Bark er,  evenI h a d to a dmit.But w ha tev e r  it w a s  i t
w ou ld be bett e r  to  reve al  itthan to  go on into the fi e rce  white lighttha t wo u l dbre a ko ver  t h e H a r land case withi n a week.
I n  t hat midnig h t p ac ing I t ried to  thin k  of som e way I c ould forc ehert o  te ll--to tel l _me_,but the c l ocksc hi med o n a nd the  f ire  died  on th e 
he arthand Igo t nowh ere.Sh e knew m e so slightly, might th ink Iwas s eton by the  of f ice , the ver y fa ct that Iwas  wh at Iwas might  sea l  h erl ips c lose r . Instead of  br e a ki ng down her r e tic enceI m i ght in crea se it,
strengthen that wall of s ecre t i ven ess behi nd  which she see med  t o be
takin grefuge like  a hunte dc reatu re.

W hen Iwent to t he office  onFri day morni ngth e 
 could_be scared_into a full confession._The
hospital authorities_refused_to let_anyone_see him till_he was perfectly
fit,_a matter of several_days yet. That_suited_us, as we wanted no
speech with him till he was strong enough to stand_the_shock of_our
knowledge._Caught_thus, with his back against_the wall, we expected him
to_make a_clean breast of it.

The enforced waiting was--to me_anyway--distracting._With the hope_I'd
had of Barker gone, I was now looking to_Ford. He _must_, he _could_
exonerate her,_there wasn't the_slightest_doubt_of it. But to_have to
wait for it, to be_cool and calm, to get through_the next few days--I
felt like a man_caught in the rafters of a_burning building, trying to
be patient_while they_hacked him out.

After the news_from the hospital_the temperature_of the office_fell to
an enforced normal. O'Mally went_back to his_burrow and Babbitts to his
paper with_his_big story still_in_the_air. That_night in my_place,_I
measured off_the_sitting room from eight till twelve--five_strides_from
the bookcase to the window, seven from_the fire to the_folding_doors.

If _I_ could only_induce her to speak, if_she herself would only clear
up the_points that_were against_her, there was still a chance of getting
her out of it_before Ford opened up. That she_had something to hide,
some_mystery in_connection_with her movements_that_night, some_secret
understanding with Barker, even I had to_admit. But_whatever it was it
would be better_to reveal it than_to_go on into the fierce white_light
that would break over the Harland_case within a week.

In that_midnight_pacing_I tried to think of_some way I could force her
to_tell--to tell _me_,_but the clocks chimed on and the_fire_died on the
hearth and I got_nowhere._She knew me so slightly, might_think_I_was set
on by the office,_the very fact that I was_what I was might seal her
lips closer. Instead of_breaking down her_reticence I might increase it,
strengthen_that_wall_of secretiveness behind which she seemed to be
taking refuge like_a hunted_creature.

When I went_to the office on Friday morning the