Part 33 (2/2)
Everett found his voice, and asked sharply:
”How did you get into the house?”
Scraggy put up her arm, drew the snarling cat under it, and looked stupidly at the man. She was so close that he could see the steam rising from her wet clothes, and the hisses of the animal were audible above his own heavy breathing. Screech Owl smoothed the cat's bristling back.
”p.u.s.s.y ain't to hiss at my own pretty boy!” she whispered. ”He's my little 'un--he's my little 'un!”
A premonition, born of her words, goaded Everett to action.
”Get up!” he ordered. ”Get up and get out of here! Do you want me to have you arrested?”
Scraggy smiled.
”Ye wouldn't have yer own mother pinched, little 'un. I'm yer mammy!
Don't ye know me?”
He moved threateningly toward her; but a snarl from the furious cat stayed him.
”You lie! You crazy fool! Get up, or I'll kick you out of the house! Get out, I say! Every word you've uttered is a lie!”
”I don't lie,” cried Scraggy. ”Ye be my boy. Ain't ye got a long dig on ye from--from yer neck to yer arm--a red cut yer pappy made that night I gived ye to the Brimbecomb woman? The place were a bleedin' and a bleedin' all through your baby dress. Wait! I'll show ye where it is.”
She scrambled up and advanced toward him.
Everett made as if to strike her.
”Get back, I say! I would hate you if you were my mother! You can't fool me with your charlatan tricks!”
The woman sank down, whimpering.
Again Everett sprang forward; but again the cat drove him back.
”Go--go--now!” he muttered. ”I can't bear the sight of you!”
There were tones in his voice that reminded Scraggy of Lem, and her heart grew tender as she thought of the father waiting for his child.
”Ye won't hate yer pappy, if he does hate me. He wants ye, little 'un.
I've come to take ye back to yer hum. He won't hurt ye no more.”
Everett stared at her wildly. Was the delicious mystery that had surrounded him for so many years, which had occupied his mind hour upon hour, to end in this? He would not have it so!
”Get up, then,” he said, his lips whitening, ”and tell me what you have to say.”
Scraggy lifted herself up. Her boy wanted to hear more about his father, she thought.
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