"You know I'm not wrong. I went to see McFee."
"What did he say?" asked Gibbs, with the interest in anything this lord that stood between him and the upper world might say.
"Why, he said he wouldn't say nothing."
"Did he say you could stay?"
"Well," she hesitated an instant, "he said he didn't want me doing any work in town; he said he wouldn't stand for it."
"No, you mustn't do any work here." Gibbs spoke now with his own authority, reinforcing that of the detective.
"Oh, sin not leery!" she sneered at him. "I'm covered all right, and strong. You're missing the number, that's all. I'm going to camp here, and when I see her, I'll clout her on the kurb; I'll slam a rod to her nut, if I croak for it!"
"Jane," said Gibbs, when he had looked his stupefaction at her, "you've certainly gone off your nut. Who in hell's this woman you're talking about?"
"As if you don't know! What do you want to string me for?"
Gibbs looked at her with a perfectly blank face.