"Easy for you two, with your youth and good looks and health to patronize me and fancy how much more decently you could die than I. I wish the two of you were chained to my inert body. How sweet and patient you would be! Bah! You weary me. Pen, will you go over to Mrs. Flynn's for the root beer she promised me?"
Pen made her escape gladly. When she was out of hearing Jim said, "Sara, why do you want the building charges repudiated?"
"Who said I wanted them repudiated?" asked Sara.
"A tent is a poor place to hold secrets," replied Jim. "Did you come here to do me dirt, Sara? Did I ever do you any harm?"
Sara turned purple. He raised himself on his elbow. "Why," he shouted, "did you destroy my chances with Pen by getting her love? You wanted it only to discard it!"
CHAPTER XVII
TOO LATE FOR LOVE
"Honor is the thing that makes humans different from dogs—some dogs! When women have it, it is mingled always with tenderness."