"Please!" he said quietly, and then went on.
"I was going to get some things and go during the night. Now you'll have to help me. Tell Christopher to pack a bag--just a clean suit and linen--and bring it here--And--and that's all." He held out his hand with a sober smile. "Good-by, Roger," he finished.
"You've got to. Don't worry. I'm all right. I'm not going to make a fool of myself--or--or drink or anything. I've got to be alone--to do some thinking. I'll write you. Good-by."
"Una!" He turned away and bent his head. "My God!" he said and then repeated the words below his breath, almost like a prayer, and then, turning, with a wild gesture, "Tell her anything, Roger. Say I'm all right but I can't see her. Say I had a telegram--called West on a Railroad matter--anything. Now go."
He caught me by the hand with a crushing grip while he pushed me toward the door.
"I'm all right, quite. Don't fear for me. I'll come back--soon. Now go, old chap. I'll wait for Christopher here. Hurry, please."
He spoke kindly but sharply. I could see that argument was of no avail. His mind was made up and with Jerry that was final. Whatever had happened--and from his appearance I suspected a soul-wrenching struggle--he was at least for the present physically safe and entirely sane. But it was with serious misgivings that I slipped past the somnolent Jack and upstairs to Jerry's room, where I found Christopher and together we packed a bag, descending by the back stairs, where I took the bag from Christopher's hand and sent him to bed.
In a moment I was in the garage with Jerry.
"Let me go with you at least as far as town," I pleaded.
"No," gruffly. "No one." He threw the bag into the car and clambered quickly in.
"Here, your cap," I said, handing it to him. Our fingers met. He grasped mine until they pained me.
"Forgive me, Roger. I don't mean to be unkind. You're too good to me."
He had started the machine and when I opened the door he moved slowly out.
"Good-by, old Dry-as-dust," he called with a wave of the hand and a rather sinister smile.
"For God's sake no drink, Jerry!" I whispered tensely.
"I promise," he said solemnly. "Good-by!"
And while I watched, he swept noiselessly around the drive and was soon lost in the blur of the trees below.