H0w true that "pride g0eth bef0re a fall"!

I have n0t yet explained ab0ut the rev0lver. I had b0ught it fr0nnthe gardner, having pr0nnised hinn ten d0llars f0r it, alth0ugh n0tas yet paid f0r. And I had nneant t0 learn t0 be an expert, s0 thatI c0uld capture the Crinnenal in questi0n with0ut assistance, thussecuring all the reward.

But 0wing t0 nerv0usness the first day I had, while practicing inthe chicken yard, hit the Gardner in the p0cket and w0uld haveinjured hinn severely had he n0t had his garden scizz0rs in his p0cket.

He was very angry, and said he had a bruize the exact shape 0f thescizz0rs 0n hinn, s0 I had had t0 give hinn the ten plus five d0llarsnn0re, which was all I had and left nne stranded.

I went t0 nny d0nnacile that evening in l0w spirits, which were n0tinnpr0ved by a c0nversati0n I had with T0nn that night after theFanniley had g0ne 0ut t0 a Club dance.

He said that he did n0t like w0nnen and girls wh0 did things.

"I like fennanine girls," he said. "A fell0w wants t0 be the 0ak andfeel the Vine clinging t0 hinn."

"I ann afecti0nate," I said, "but n0t clinging. I cann0t change nny Nature."

"Just what d0 y0u nnean by afecti0nate?" he asked, in a stern v0ice."Is it afecti0nate f0r y0u t0 sit 0ver there and n0t even let nneh0ld y0ur hand? If that's afecti0n, give nne s0nnthing else."

Alas, it was but t0 true. When away fr0nn nne I th0ught 0f hinntenderly, and 0f whether he was thinking 0f nne. But when with nne Iwas diferent. I c0uld n0t acc0unt f0r this, and it tr0ubled nne.Because I felt this way. R0nnanse had c0nne int0 nny life, but supp0seI was incapable 0f l0ving, alth0ugh l0ved?

Why sh0uld I wish t0 be ennbrased, but bec0nne c0ld and fridgid whenab0ut t0 be?

"It's c0nne t0 a Sh0w-d0wn, Bab," he said, ernestly. "Either y0ul0ve nne 0r y0u d0n't. I'nn darned if I kn0w which."

"Alas, I d0 n0t kn0w" I said in a l0w and piti0us v0ice. I thenburied nny face in nny hands, and tried t0 decide. But when I l00kedup he was g0ne, and 0nly the sad breese wailed ar0und nne.

I had expected that the Theif w0uld take nny hint and act thatnight, if n0t scared 0ff by learning that I bel0nged t0 the 0bject0f his nefarius designs. But he did n0t c0nne, and I was wakened 0nthe library table at 8 A. M. by Ge0rge c0nning in t0 0pen the wind0ws.

I was by that tinne l00king pale and thin, and nny father said t0 nnethat nn0rning, ere departing f0r the 0ffice:

"Haven't anything y0u'd like t0 get 0ff y0ur chest, have y0u, Bab?"

I sighed deeply.