Part 15 (1/2)

”What's the matter, kid?” inquired Morgan carelessly.

”I've got something to say to you,” answered Joe thickly. He was panting, more from rage than exertion; his hands trembled.

Morgan looked him over from boots to bandless hat with the same evidence of curiosity as a person displays when turning some washed-up object with the foot on the sands. It was as if he had but an abstract interest in the youth, a feeling which the incident had obtruded upon him without penetrating the reserve of his private cogitations.

”Kid, you look like you'd seen a snake,” said he.

”You let that woman alone--you've got to let her alone, I tell you!”

said Joe with explosive suddenness, his pa.s.sion out of hand.

Morgan's face grew red.

”Mind your own business, you sneakin' skunk!” said he.

”I am minding it,” said Joe; ”but maybe not as well as I ought to 'a'

done. Isom left me here in his place to watch and look after things, but you've sneaked in under my arm like a dirty, thieving dog, and you've--you've----”

Morgan thrust his fist before Joe's face.

”That'll do now--that'll do out of you!” he threatened.

Joe caught Morgan's wrist with a quick, snapping movement, and slowly bent the threatening arm down, Morgan struggling, foot to foot with him in the test of strength. Joe held the captured arm down for a moment, and they stood breast to breast, glaring into each other's eyes. Then with a wrench that spun Morgan half round and made him stagger, Joe flung his arm free.

”Now, you keep away from here--keep away!” he warned, his voice growing thin and boyish in the height of his emotion, as if it would break in the treble shallows.

”Don't fool with me or I'll hurt you,” said Morgan. ”Keep your nose----”

”Let her alone!” commanded Joe sternly, his voice sinking again even below its accustomed level, gruff and deep in his chest. ”I heard you--I didn't mean to, but I couldn't help it--and I know what you're up to tonight. Don't come around here tonight after her, for I'm not going to let her go.”

”Ya-a, you pup, you pup!” said Morgan nastily.

”It's a hard life for her here--I know that better than you do,” said Joe, pa.s.sing over the insult, ”but you can't give her any better--not as good. What you've done can't be undone now, but I can keep you from dragging her down any further. Don't you come back here tonight!”

”If you keep your fingers out of the fire,” said Morgan, looking at the ground, rolling a fallen apple with his toe, ”you'll not get scorched.

You stick to your knittin' and don't meddle with mine. That'll be about the healthiest thing you can do!”

”If Isom knew what you've done he'd kill you--if he's even half a man,”

said Joe. ”She was a good woman till you came, you hound!”

”She's a good woman yet,” said Morgan, with some feeling, ”too good for that old h.e.l.l-dog she's married to!”

”Then let her stay good--at least as good as she is,” advised Joe.

”Oh, h.e.l.l!” said Morgan disgustedly.

”You can't have her,” persisted Joe.

”We'll see about that, too,” said Morgan, his manner and voice threatening. ”What're you goin' to do--pole off and tell the old man?”