Dick could wait to hear no more. Retracing his steps noiselessly, he
went out into the open air. Could it be true? Had his ears deceived him?
Was it possible that the beautiful woman on whom he had lavished all the
first love of his life could be capable of playing with him in such a
fashion? Jack was his rival! He was a sycophant! a hypocrite! a villian!

How the afternoon passed he could not tell. He kept as far away from
Susy as his duties would allow, and at night he walked home alone.

Next day he met Jack at the entrance to the works, but he gave him such
a look of hatred that he stepped aside and he passed without a word.

Jack was quite unconscious of having done anything to merit such
treatment, but by degrees, as he reviewed the incidents of the past few
weeks, a light broke upon him;--he saw it all. They were rivals.

From that time all intercourse ceased between the two who had been
deemed inseparable. This gave rise to many remarks from their
acquaintances, not a few of whom guessed the cause.

Susy seemed quite unconcerned, and smiled as sweetly as ever. Dick
furtively watched her, and the more he looked, the stronger grew his mad
infatuation and the deeper became his determination to be revenged.

He never again intruded himself on Susy's dinner hour, but he knew that
Jack took every opportunity of seeing her, and the work that he should
have done during the time the machine was standing, he had to hurry over
when it was in motion. It was a hazardous work;--a single slip might
lead to a certain and horrible death. But he was experienced and