“I hope so,” he said disinterestedly.
Lafe always disciplined himself after a siege with his temper.
“He won’t be alone till I get through with ’im,” grunted Maudlin, with an ugly expression. “I been tellin’ ’im I’m goin’ to marry Jinnie.”
Lafe straightened with a throat sound that boded no good for the speaker, and Theodore got swiftly to his feet.
“Don’t repeat what you’ve just said,” the latter gritted between his teeth, whirling on Maudlin.
Bates shot out of his chair at this command.
“My tongue’s my own,” he roared, “and Jinnie’ll be glad to marry me before––”
Theodore’s big fist swept out, striking the man full in the face, and Maudlin dropped like an ox hit with an axe, but he was on his feet in another minute. His rapidly swelling face was blanched with rage.
“Damn you, twicet and three times damn you––”
Lafe made an ejaculation, and neither one of the three 238 men noticed that the door to the little hall at the back had opened a trifle.