"
Mr. Bascomb didn't reply to this, but puffed hard at the black cigar he
was smoking and sending up clouds of smoke.
But the president of the Melliston Company became instantly more distracted
when Tom Reade began an account of the capture of Evarts, and his jailing,
and the escape of Mr. Sambo Ebony.
Presently Bascomb began to puff harder than ever at his cigar.
"Reade," he finally blurted out, "how long were you hiding there before
Evarts found you there?"
"Some little time," Tom admitted vaguely.
More clouds of cigar smoke ascended; then, shaking, and his face a sickly
white and green, the president inquired:
"Reade, were you there---you and Mr. Prescott---at the time when I talked
with Evarts on that very spot to-night?"
There was no use in evading the question, so engineer Reade answered in a
straightforward manner:
"Yes, sir. Mr. Prescott and I were there."
"Then---then---y-y-you heard all of my talk with Evarts?"
"Yes, sir."
Bascomb's teeth began to chatter so that he was forced to steady his jaws.
Tom and Dick looked aside, pitying the man for his evident anguish of mind.
At last the president steadied himself enough to speak.
"Reade, I know I haven't been a very good friend of yours, and I even
tried to work you out of this contract altogether.
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