CHAPTER 32The big man crossed the floor with one vast stride, and, seizing Donnegan by both shoulders, dragged him under the full light of the window; and still the crazy laughter shook Donnegan and made him helpless.
“They tied me to a board—like a papoose,” said Donnegan, “and they straightened my back—but they left me this way—wizened up.” He was stammering; hysterical, and the words tumbled from his lips in a jumble. “That was a month after you ran away from home. I was going to find you. Got bigger. Took the road. Kept hunting. Then I met a yegg who told about Rusty d**k—described him like you—I thought—I thought you were dead!”
And the tears rolled down his face; he sobbed like a woman.
A strange thing happened then. Lord Nick lifted the little man in his arms as if he were a chil
