She bit her lips to stifle the sobs; but still clung beseechingly to his coat.
Lon stepped backward from the chair, and whirled about so quickly that his coat was jerked from Fledra's grasp.
"Then I'll take Fluke, and what I won't do to him ain't worth speakin' 'bout." He glanced at her face and stopped. Never had he seen such an expression. Her bleeding lips and flaring eyes sent him a step from her.
"If you leave me with Lem," she hissed her repetition, "then I'll jump in the river!" Seeing that he hesitated, she went on, " You stay right in here with Lem and me, Pappy Lon, and when we get to the hut I'll do what you tell me."
Fledra heard Lem drop the old boot he had been mending and advance toward her. She turned upon him, and the scowman halted.
"I said as how I'd settle with ye, Flea," he said, "and now I'm goin' to."
But Lon glared so fiercely that Crabbe closed his mouth and retreated.
"It ain't time fer ye to settle yet, Lem, I'm a thinkin'," said Lon. "Ye keep shet up, or I'll settle with ye afore ye has a chance to fix Flea." Turning to the girl, he questioned her. "Did ye tell anyone ye was goin' with me?" Fledra nodded her head. "Did ye tell Flukey?"
"Yes, and Mr. Shellington. But I told them both that I came of my own free will. But you know I came because I wanted Mr. Shellington to live and Flukey to stay where he is. But I ain't going to be alone in this room with Lem tonight—I tell you that!"
Lon sat down and smoked moodily on his pipe. After a few minutes' thought he said: