"Ten  minutes  ago.  I  have  n't  any  idea  it  will  amount  to
much,  but  I  thought  I  ought  to  be  here  in  case  of  danger."

Dr.  Elliot  grunted.  Ellis,  suggesting  that  they  take  a
look  at  the  other  defense,  tactfully  led  him  away,  leaving
father  and  son  together.  They  had  not  seen  each  other
since  the  Emergency  Health  Committee  meeting.  Some
thing  of  the  quack's  glossy  jauntiness  faded  out  of  his
bearing  as  he  turned  to  Hal.
375


THE   CLARION

"Boy-ee,"  he  began  diffidently,  "there's  been  a  pretty
bad  mistake."

"There's  been  worse  than  that,"  said  Hal  sadly.
"About  Milly  Neal.  I  thought — I  thought  it  was  you
that  got  her  into  trouble."

"Why?   For  God's  sake,  why?"

"Don't  be  too  hard  on  me,"  pleaded  the  other.  "I'd
heard  about  the  road-house.  And  then,  what  she  said  to
you.  It  all  fitted  in.  Hale  put  me  right.  Boy-ee,  I  can
sleep  again,  now  that  I  know  it  was  n't  you."

The  implication  caught  at  Hal's  throat.
"Why,  Dad,"  he  said  lamely,  "if  you'd  only  come  to
me  and  asked  — "

"Somehow  I  couldn't.  I  was  waiting  for  you  to  tell
me."  He  slid  his  big  hand  over  Hal's  shoulder,  and
clutched  him  in  a  sudden,  jerky  squeeze,  his  face  averted.
