The Brand of Silence. Harrington Strong

I got to taking her about. You didn't write, and she was too proud to look you up, and so—after a time——"

      "You married her," said Prale.

      "About three years after you went away, Sid. She died after we had been married a year."

      "But she always wanted money, and I had as much as you."

      "I made a strike soon after you left, Sid. I plunged with my five thousand, and turned it into a hundred thousand inside four months. I kept on, and got more. I was worth almost half a million when we were married."

      "I see. Well, there are no hard feelings, George. She was a good woman, in a way, and I'm sorry you lost her. I suppose we'll have to get together, for old time's sake."

      "Are you going to stay here long, Sid?"

      "Long? I've sold out all my Honduras holdings, and I'm here to spend the rest of my days. I've come home for good, George. The United States is plenty good enough for me. I'm going to be a civilized gentleman from now on."

      "You—you're not going back?"

      "Why should I? I brought that million with me. I left nothing in Honduras except a few friends. I suppose I'll run down there some day and see them, but this is going to be home, you can bet."

      "Don't do it, Sid!" Lerton exclaimed.

      "Don't do what?"

      "Don't stay here, Sid. Get out as quick as you can! Go back to Honduras—anywhere—but don't stay in New York."

      "Why shouldn't I? What on earth is the matter with you? Are you insane?"

      "I—I can't tell you, Sid. But you are in danger if you don't leave New York. I can tell you that much. That's why I didn't call at the hotel; I'm afraid. Sid, I'm afraid to have anybody see me talking to you. If you came to my office, I'd refuse to see you——"

      "Why?" demanded Sidney Prale, in a stern voice.

      "I—I can't explain, Sid."

      "I've endured a lot of nonsense to-day, and I'm not going to endure any more!" Prale said. "You're going to open your mouth and tell me what you mean, if I have to manhandle you."

      "You can beat me until I'm unconscious, Sid, but you can't make me talk!" Lerton told him.

      "But what does it all mean?"

      "You'd better go away, Sid; you'd better get out of the country and stay out!"

      "No reason why I should. I never gave up my citizenship; I haven't done anything wrong. I'm back in my old home, and I fail to see why I shouldn't remain here if that is my wish."

      "But you're in danger!"

      "In danger from what?" Sidney Prale cried.

      "You have powerful enemies, Sid."

      "Why?"

      "I—I don't know, exactly. But you have powerful enemies. Some of my best customers have informed me that they are through doing business with me if I have anything to do with you. They told me that before you had been back three hours."

      "Powerful enemies? Why? Business enemies?"

      "I—I don't know."

      "Um! So that is why the bank refused my deposit, why I was turned out of a hotel, and why old Rufus Shepley raised such a row with me! Powerful enemies, have I? But there isn't sense in it! I haven't done anything to make powerful enemies, or any other kind. I'm about fed up with this stuff!"

      "Go away, Sid. You've got money—you can live anywhere!"

      "You bet I can! And I'm going to live in New York!"

      "Don't try it, Sid!"

      Prale whirled and faced him. "You know more than you're telling!" he accused. "You open your face and talk! I never did have any too much love for you, and you can wager that I'm not going to let you frighten me into running away from New York! Talk!"

      "I haven't anything more to say, Sid!"

      "If I have to choke it out of you right here——"

      "You'd better not. It would give your enemies a chance!"

      "Lerton, I've fought the Honduras jungles! I've fought half-savage men and treacherous employees, snakes and fever, financial sharks and common adventurers. I didn't come back to New York to back down in front of a man like you—or half a hundred like you. Maybe that is strong talk—but you have it coming! Give my enemies a chance? I'll give them all the chance they want. Maybe they'll come into the open, then, and let me see whom I'm fighting! I don't like foes that fight from the dark!"

      "You'd better go away, Sid. I'm talking for your own good!"

      "For my good? For yours, you mean! Afraid you'll lose a few customers and a few dollars, by standing by your cousin, are you? Why don't you be a man, tell me what you know, help me to fight! Bah! I'm disgusted with you!"