"Do you?" said the young man, leaning closer and looking into her face.
He was satisfied by what he saw. For a moment the old pride flamed up, a spark in the black glance, a haughty straightening of the neck.
"A common thief like him for my lover? Say, you know me, Charlie. I'd have killed myself, or maybe I'd have killed him."
Crowder had what he would have called "a hunch" that this might be true.
From his heart he exclaimed:
"Gee, I'm glad it's turned out the way it has!"
"So am I. Only I'm sorry for one thing. It's you that have caught him, not me."
Crowder laughed.
"You Indian!" he said. "You red, revengeful devil!"
"Oh, I'm that!" she answered, with biting emphasis. "When I get a blow I want to give one. I don't turn the other cheek; I strike back—with a knife if I have one handy."
"Well, don't you bother about knives now. The hitting's going to be done for you. All you have to do is to sit still, like a perfect lady, and say nothing."