“Your son is the liar,” said she. “Did he tell you how he flung a blanket over my head as Juanita and I were coming out of Martinez’ office? How he tied my hands and feet and carried me off like a victim––and victim he intended me to be! Yes, Mr. Weir rescued me because Juanita met and told him what had happened and he followed. Your son was drunk. He tried to commit a crime because I had rejected him a week before, on learning that during our engagement he had endeavored to mislead another girl. A drunkard and a criminal both, that’s your son. And he alone brought on his accident by his drunken, reckless driving. Now I’ve told you the truth; leave the house!”
“You can’t put that kind of a story over on me,” he snarled. “I believe what Ed said. Even if he has had affairs with other girls, that makes no difference now. You tried to double-cross him; you’ve wrecked his body and life; and you shall pay for it.”
Neither of the pair in their intense excitement had heard a wagon drive to a stop before the house. Whether in fact they would have heard a peal of thunder might be a question. Sorenson, enraged by his son’s injury and burning for revenge, was oblivious to all else but his passion, while Janet Hosmer, divided between contempt and fear, had but the single thought of ridding herself of the man.
“You cannot injure me,” she said, in reply to his savage utterance.
“I’ll drive you and your father out of this town and this state,” he exclaimed. “They shall know here in San Mateo, and wherever you go if it’s in my power to reach there, what sort of a pretending, double-faced, disreputable wanton–––”
“You coward!” Janet burst out.
Then she turned to flee out of the room to arouse her father. But Sorenson was too quick for her; he sprang forward and seized one of her wrists.
“No you don’t, you perfumed wench!” he growled.
A scream formed on Janet’s lips. The heavy, rage-crimsoned face bent over her as if to kill her by its very nearness. Brute the man was, and as a brute he appeared determined she should feel his power. She pulled back, jerking to free herself, and shrieked.