"You don't know, Jack. You've been here too short a time. You don'tknow this Baldwin. You don't know McGinty and his Scowrers."
"No, I don't know them, and I don't fear them, and I don't believe inthem!" said McMurdo. "I've lived among rough men, my darling, andinstead of fearing them it has always ended that they have fearedme--always, Ettie. It's mad on the face of it! If these men, as yourfather says, have done crime after crime in the valley, and if everyoneknows them by name, how comes it that none are brought to justice? Youanswer me that, Ettie!"
"Because no witness dares to appear against them. He would not live amonth if he did. Also because they have always their own men to swearthat the accused one was far from the scene of the crime. But surely,Jack, you must have read all this. I had understood that every paper inthe United States was writing about it."
"Well, I have read something, it is true; but I had thought it was astory. Maybe these men have some reason in what they do. Maybe they arewronged and have no other way to help themselves."
"Oh, Jack, don't let me hear you speak so! That is how he speaks--theother one!"
"Baldwin--he speaks like that, does he?"
"And that is why I loathe him so. Oh, Jack, now I can tell you thetruth. I loathe him with all my heart; but I fear him also. I fear himfor myself; but above all I fear him for father. I know that some greatsorrow would come upon us if I dared to say what I really felt. That iswhy I have put him off with half-promises. It was in real truth ouronly hope. But if you would fly with me, Jack, we could take fatherwith us and live forever far from the power of these wicked men."
Again there was the struggle upon McMurdo's face, and again it set likegranite. "No harm shall come to you, Ettie--nor to your father either.As to wicked men, I expect you may find that I am as bad as the worstof them before we're through."
"No, no, Jack! I would trust you anywhere."
McMurdo laughed bitterly. "Good Lord! how little you know of me! Yourinnocent soul, my darling, could not even guess what is passing inmine. But, hullo, who's the visitor?"
The door had opened suddenly, and a young fellow came swaggering inwith the air of one who is the master. He was a handsome, dashing youngman of about the same age and build as McMurdo himself. Under hisbroad-brimmed black felt hat, which he had not troubled to remove, ahandsome face with fierce, domineering eyes and a curved hawk-bill of anose looked savagely at the pair who sat by the stove.
Ettie had jumped to her feet full of confusion and alarm. "I'm glad tosee you, Mr. Baldwin," said she. "You're earlier than I had thought.Come and sit down."
Baldwin stood with his hands on his hips looking at McMurdo. "Who isthis?" he asked curtly.
"It's a friend of mine, Mr. Baldwin, a new boarder here. Mr. McMurdo,may I introduce you to Mr. Baldwin?"
The young men nodded in surly fashion to each other.
"Maybe Miss Ettie has told you how it is with us?" said Baldwin.
"I didn't understand that there was any relation between you."
"Didn't you? Well, you can understand it now. You can take it from methat this young lady is mine, and you'll find it a very fine eveningfor a walk."
"Thank you, I am in no humour for a walk."
"Aren't you?" The man's savage eyes were blazing with anger. "Maybe youare in a humour for a fight, Mr. Boarder!"
"That I am!" cried McMurdo, springing to his feet. "You never said amore welcome word."
"For God's sake, Jack! Oh, for God's sake!" cried poor, distractedEttie. "Oh, Jack, Jack, he will hurt you!"
"Oh, it's Jack, is it?" said Baldwin with an oath. "You've come to thatalready, have you?"
"Oh, Ted, be reasonable--be kind! For my sake, Ted, if ever you lovedme, be big-hearted and forgiving!"
"I think, Ettie, that if you were to leave us alone we could get thisthing settled," said McMurdo quietly. "Or maybe, Mr. Baldwin, you willtake a turn down the street with me. It's a fine evening, and there'ssome open ground beyond the next block."
"I'll get even with you without needing to dirty my hands," said hisenemy. "You'll wish you had never set foot in this house before I amthrough with you!"
"No time like the present," cried McMurdo.
"I'll choose my own time, mister. You can leave the time to me. Seehere!" He suddenly rolled up his sleeve and showed upon his forearm apeculiar sign which appeared to have been branded there. It was acircle with a triangle within it. "D'you know what that means?"
"I neither know nor care!"
"Well, you will know, I'll promise you that. You won't be much older,either. Perhaps Miss Ettie can tell you something about it. As to you,Ettie, you'll come back to me on your knees--d'ye hear, girl?--on yourknees--and then I'll tell you what your punishment may be. You'vesowed--and by the Lord, I'll see that you reap!" He glanced at themboth in fury. Then he turned upon his heel, and an instant later theouter door had banged behind him.