Derrick had raised himself on his elbow, but at this he dropped back and

his eyes fell, for he knew what was coming.

"Of course you know how it is with her," said Sidcup. "You're not blind,

and you must have seen for some time past that she's--sweet on you. I

don't say it's your fault; in fact, I'll go so far as to say that you

haven't led her on, encouraged her, as another man might have done.

That's just the worst of it. Perhaps, if you had, she wouldn't have been

so taken with you. It's the way with some women to go after the man that

draws back or doesn't meet 'em half-way."

"Look here----" said Derrick. But Sidcup shook his head.

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"Better let me finish," he said; "no doubt you'll have something to say

when I've done. Of course, you'll deny it, but what's the use? All the

company know it. And I--well, I've the best reason for knowing it. Oh,

yes, I've come to speak out. I'm sweet on her myself--no, that's not the

word, for I love her. It's no new affair with me; it's been going on

ever since she joined us. She's the one woman in the world for me, and I

want her, want her badly. But it's love with me, the real thing, and I

tell you straight, Green, that, if you care for her, if you'll marry

her, I'll stand aside, and I'll do all I can for you and her. That's how

it is with me."

Derrick, with his brows drawn straight and his lips shut, held out his

hand, for his heart went out to this man who was in the same case as

himself. But Sidcup disregarded the proffered hand.

"Wait a bit!" he said. "I want to hear what you're going to say, what

you're going to do; for I tell you plainly that, if you don't mean the

straight thing by Isabel, you've got to reckon with me, and I shan't

miss it, as that fool of a Jackman did. Will you marry her?"

"No," said Derrick, in a low voice, but decidedly. "Mind, I don't admit

the truth of your--your statement; but, if I did, there are reasons----"

"There's another woman," said Sidcup, drawing a long breath.

Derrick's pale face flushed. "There are reasons why I can't marry any

woman, Sidcup," he said. "No, I can't tell you them, but you can take it

from me that they exist. No, I'm not married already," he added, with a

grim smile, as he saw the question in Sidcup's eyes. "The fact is, I'm

an outcast and a pariah. Sounds melodramatic, doesn't it? But it's the

truth. And you can tell Isabel so, if you like."




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