The First and the Last eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 30 pages of information about The First and the Last.

The First and the Last eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 30 pages of information about The First and the Last.

Larry. [Putting his arms round Wanda, who is standing motionless with her eyes fixed on him] Together, Keith?

Keith.  You can’t go together.  I’ll send her by the next boat.

Larry.  Swear?

Keith.  Yes.  You’re lucky they’re on a false scent.

Larry.  What?

Keith.  You haven’t seen it?

Larry.  I’ve seen nothing, not even a paper.

Keith.  They’ve taken up a vagabond who robbed the body.  He pawned a snake-shaped ring, and they identified this Walenn by it.  I’ve been down and seen him charged myself.

Larry.  With murder?

Wanda. [Faintly] Larry!

Keith.  He’s in no danger.  They always get the wrong man first.  It’ll do him no harm to be locked up a bit—­hyena like that.  Better in prison, anyway, than sleeping out under archways in this weather.

Larry.  What was he like, Keith?

Keith.  A little yellow, ragged, lame, unshaven scarecrow of a chap. 
They were fools to think he could have had the strength.

Larry.  What! [In an awed voice] Why, I saw him—­after I left you last night.

Keith.  You?  Where?

Larry.  By the archway.

Keith.  You went back there?

Larry.  It draws you, Keith.

KErra.  You’re mad, I think.

Larry.  I talked to him, and he said, “Thank you for this little chat.  It’s worth more than money when you’re down.”  Little grey man like a shaggy animal.  And a newspaper boy came up and said:  “That’s right, guv’nors!  ’Ere’s where they found the body—­very spot.  They ’yn’t got ’im yet.”

     [He laughs; and the terrified girl presses herself against him.]

An innocent man!

Keith.  He’s in no danger, I tell you.  He could never have strangled——­Why, he hadn’t the strength of a kitten.  Now, Larry!  I’ll take your berth to-morrow.  Here’s money [He brings out a pile of notes and puts them on the couch] You can make a new life of it out there together presently, in the sun.

Larry. [In a whisper] In the sun!  “A cup of wine and thou.” [Suddenly] How can I, Keith?  I must see how it goes with that poor devil.

Keith.  Bosh!  Dismiss it from your mind; there’s not nearly enough evidence.

Larry.  Not?

Keith.  No.  You’ve got your chance.  Take it like a man.

Larry. [With a strange smile—­to the girl] Shall we, Wanda?

Wanda.  Oh, Larry!

Larry. [Picking the notes up from the couch] Take them back, Keith.

Keith.  What!  I tell you no jury would convict; and if they did, no judge would hang.  A ghoul who can rob a dead body, ought to be in prison.  He did worse than you.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The First and the Last from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.