" There was
no change in her voice.
She stood gazing into his face; not a tear in her eyes; no quiver
of her lips. She had passed that stage; she was like a victim led
to the stake in whom nothing but dull endurance is left.
Jack backed into a chair and sat with bowed head, his cheeks in
his hands. Had the earth opened under him he could not have been
more astounded. Garry Minott a defaulter! Garry a thief!
Everything seemed to whirl about him--only the woman remained
quiet--still standing--her calm, impassive eyes fixed on his
bowed head; her dry, withering, soulless words still vibrating in
the hushed room.
"When did this happen, Corinne--this--this taking of Mr. McGowan's
money?" The words came between his closed fingers, as if he, too,
would shut out some horrible shape.
"Some two weeks ago."
"When did you know of it?"
"Night before last, after you left him. I knew he was in trouble,
but I did not know it was as bad as this. If Mr. Breen had helped
me everything would have been all right, for Garry sold out all
the stock he had in the Warehouse Company, and this ten thousand
dollars is all he owes.
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