Part 36 (1/2)
Charleton stood glaring at his prospective son-in-law.
”Come off, Charleton!” cried Douglas disgustedly. ”You are a fine one to raise trouble over a situation like this. Strikes me you've done everything you could do to bring it about.”
Charleton did not seem to hear. His face was cold and hard. ”Marion, you and Jimmy pack up and get out of here!”
”I can't, Dad! I'm too sick!” sobbed the girl.
”Sick or no sick, you get out of here!”
”Don't you do it, Marion!” cried Judith. ”No man's got a right to act so at a time like this. I'll stick by you. Jimmy, you go get Grandma Brown.
I'll bet she can fix Charleton.”
Jimmy rushed out of the house.
”Now, Doug,” Judith went on, walking over to take Marion's hand, ”you and Charleton go on out while I have a talk with Marion.”
”This happens to be my house,” said Charleton. ”Marion, get up and get out!”
”I can't!” repeated the girl.
”You are a fine guy to tell a fellow how to live on wine, women and horses,” exclaimed Douglas, ”and then raise the devil when your chickens come home to roost. We all know Little Marion was born a month before you were married.”
Charleton gave Douglas an ugly look. ”I'll settle with you, for that, young fellow!” He stepped toward the bed. ”Are you going to get out, Marion?”
”No, she isn't!” snapped Douglas. He made a sudden rush at Charleton and pushed him into the kitchen, Judith slammed and locked the door behind them.
It was on this scene that John Spencer appeared, closing the outer door innocently behind him.
”I wanted to borrow your buckboard for a couple of weeks,” he began. Then he paused and looked inquiringly from his son to his old friend.
”Marion's in trouble,” said Douglas, ”and Charleton is trying to drive her out. Jude and I won't let him.”
”Why should you b.u.t.t in?” demanded John.
”Anybody with a decent heart would,” replied Douglas.
”Get your kids out of here, John!” roared Charleton. ”Judith's in there with the door locked!”
”Judith!” called John. ”'Come here!”
”I can't, Dad. I promised Marion to stick by her.”
”You come out or I'll break the door down and bring you!”
”If you do, I'll not go to Mountain City with you!”
John hesitated, though his face was purple.
”You couldn't keep her away from the rodeo and you know it,” sneered Charleton. ”Fetch her out, John, unless you're afraid of Doug.”