“Well, 'tis dod-basted hot,” said Harvey, taking the proffered fan. “It's hot enough to make a saint swear, if I was one, which I ain't. No, mam; never again! Saintin' ain't in my line—not as a regular job. I don't say that maybe I won't do a little at it off an' on, times when the junk business gets a mite slack, but I don't figger to go at it regular again. The way I figger it out is that bein' a saint is too easy for a big, strong man like me. Yes, mam, too easy. I may take a whack at it once in a while as a sort of amusement—”
It was evident that Harvey did not mean to use the chair Henrietta had drawn forward for him, and a great fear came to her that he would reach Miss Susan and reclaim Lem. She pushed past him into the hall, and locked the screen door, saying, “I 'll tell Miss Susan you are here,” as she fled.
She threw open the kitchen door and stopped short. Miss Susan sat in her lone kitchen chair, and before her, seated on the edge of the table, was Johnnie Alberson.
“Oh!” Henrietta ejaculated, “I didn't know—”
“Wait!” said Miss Susan as Henrietta was about to go. “I'd as well say it now as any time, Henrietta. I can't let you have Lem.”
Johnnie Alberson carefully smoothed the cloth over his well-rounded knee. He caught Henrietta's eye and smiled at her.
“Cave-man business, Henrietta,” he said.
“What do you mean? Has Mr. Alberson been telling you I am not fit to have—” Henrietta began.
“Well, I'm sure I hate to disappoint you,” Miss Susan interrupted, “but an Alberson is an Alberson, and cash money is cash money. Lem ain't pawned to me any more; he's pawned to Mr. Alberson. Mr. Alberson paid me what Brother Harvey owes me and Lem's his.”
“Is this true?” Henrietta demanded. She felt she should be furiously angry, but for some reason she was not. Her heart, instead of pumping angry blood to her cheeks, leaped joyously, but she tried to put indignation in her voice. “Lem's mine,” said Johnnie.