"What do you mean? What did she say?"
"She told me she'd got to be a woman."
He stood and looked at me; and now I seen I had to come through, for the girl couldn't be saved no more.
"Oh, hell, Colonel," says I, "I might of known all along the thing would have to come out—it was due to break some day. I ought to of told you, of course."
"What do you mean?" says he; and he caught me once more in his hands—he's strong too.
"Turn me loose, Colonel!" says I. "There can't no man put hands on me—I won't have it. I worked for you all my life pretty near, and I done right, near as I knew. Turn loose of me!"
He let go easy like, but kept his eyes on me.
"I want to be fair," says he, and he half whispered—"I want to be fair; but, the man that's done this'll have to settle with me! Tell me, did you and her plot against me?"
"I didn't plot none," says I. "I was only hoping she'd forget all about it and get married and settle down."
"Forget about what? Did she have any affairs that you knew about?"