"You believe, by shutting me away from everything, every one, you can win what otherwise you could not get?" It all seemed cruelly plain, now. She felt she had always known it.
"Something like that, yes. You'll come to me fast enough, after to-night. Once you come I'll—I'll do the fair and square thing by you, Priscilla."
The half-pleading caught the girl's thought.
"You mean, by this device you will make me marry you? You'll blacken my name, bar my father's house to me, and then you will be generous and—marry me?"
[Illustration:"'You mean, by this device you will make me marry you? You'll blacken my name, bar my father's house to me, and then you will be generous and—marry me?'">[
Jerry-Jo dropped his bold, dark eyes.
"I never cared for you, Jerry-Jo. I hate you, now!"
At this McAlpin raised his head and a fierce red coloured his face.
"You'll get over that!" he muttered. "Any port in a storm, you know. You better not drive me now! I ain't—safe, and I've got you tight for—to-night!"