“He’s a good boy, Curtis,” she defended, but with lightness, “but he’s a little––”
She held her words back coquettishly.
“Heh?” queried Morgan.
“Jealous, you old goose! Can’t you see it?”
Morgan had a great laugh over that. From the sound of his voice Joe knew that he was standing, and his whole body ached with the fear that they would discover him lying there in the clover. Not that he was afraid of Morgan, but that he dreaded the humiliation which Ollie must suffer in knowing that her guilty tryst had been discovered.
“I’ll meet you at the gate, I’ll have the buggy on down the road a little ways,” Morgan told her. “There’s only a little while between you and liberty now, sweetheart.”
Joe dared not look up nor move, but he needed no eyes to know that Morgan kissed her then. After that he heard her running away toward the house. Morgan stood there a little while, whistling softly. Soon Joe heard him going in the direction of the road. 94
Morgan was quite a distance ahead when Joe sprang out of his concealment and followed him, for he wanted to give Ollie time to pass beyond ear-shot of the orchard. As Joe made no attempt to smother the sound of his feet, Morgan heard him while he was still several yards behind him. He turned, stopped, and waited for Joe to come up.
Joe’s agitation was plain in his face, his shocked eyes stared out of its pallor as if they had looked upon violence and death.
“What’s the matter, kid?” inquired Morgan carelessly.