Part 21 (2/2)
”Never mind who. What I want to know is do you have to do what that gang tells you to do?”
”I don't have to. Has anybody been saying I'd have to?”
”I--you hear rumors sometimes, Billy. Will you have a free hand, then?”
”So far as my powers extend, I will,” he said.
”And you'll use it?”
”I'll use it,” curiously.
”Is--is that quite safe?”
”Safe?”
”Safe to antagonize the gang?”
”It may not be safe for the gang.”
Hazel raised a great gob of b.u.t.ter in her two hands and squeezed it out slowly between her fingers. ”Couldn't you give 'em their way, sort of?
Not in everything. I don't mean that. But just enough to keep 'em good-natured?”
His curiosity changed to blank amazement. ”You know what you're asking, I suppose,” he said coldly. ”I thought you didn't like Rafe Tuckleton?”
”I hate him,” was her simple statement. ”But I--I'm afraid.”
”Afraid? How afraid?”
”Afraid for you.”
”Why for me?”
”Because--oh, it's so hard to explain!” she almost wailed. ”You misunderstand me so. You think I'm asking favors on their account!”
He believed he detected a sob in her voice. This would never do.
Couldn't have Hazel crying.
”If you'd only explain,” he suggested soothingly.
”Well,” she said, her hands busy in the b.u.t.ter, ”Sally Jane Prescott was over here yesterday, and she said what a darn good thing your election was for Crocker County; how you'd reform it and all that, and how you'd surely put out of business the gang that's running it now. I agreed with her, of course, but I never really realized till--till later what it might mean to you.”
She paused. He awaited her pleasure. After a minute's silence she continued.
”You see, Billy, you've been pretty nice to me--uncle and me. And you've come to be sort of a--sort of a friend--kind of and--and I--we don't want to see you hurt,” she finished with a rush.
”So that's the reason you think I'd better go easy on the gang.”
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