I was right.

Simmons has since told me--and I was crushed beneath the burden of my sins." After a pause he raised a drawn face and went on to tell of his meeting, the year before, with Barney Bill, of whom he had lost track when the prison doors had closed behind him.

It had been in one of his Fish Palaces where Bill was eating.

They recognized each other.

Barney Bill told his tale: how he had run across Polly Kegworthy after a dozen years' wandering; how, for love of his old friend, he had taken Paul, child of astonishing promise, away from Bludston-- "Do you remember, sonny, when I left you alone that night and went to the other side of the brickfield?
It was to think it out," said Bill.
"To think out my duty as a man." Paul nodded.