Joe felt relieved. If this was how she was going to take it, he was right there with her. He grinned up at her. “Aah! chase yerself!” he drawled. “This is my show. I started it, didn’t I?”
“You didn’t earn this money, damn you!”
“I put you in the way of earning it!”
Jewel suddenly quieted down. “Was it in cash?” she asked.
“No, railroad bonds. He got ’em out of the safe deposit box himself.”
Jewel sat down, and picked up her sewing. This was what Joe was afraid of. He ground his teeth together. “Aah, what was you anyhow when I picked you out of the gutter?” he cried noisily. “You was nottin’ but a dirty little Allen street. . . .”
Jewel smiled at him. “What’s the use?” she said; “you know you got to fork out.”
“I’m damned if I will!” cried Joe. “Now you know it, what you goin’ to do about it?”
Jewel merely pulled her sewing this way and that.
“I’m damned well gonna keep those bonds!” shouted Joe. “You tell the old man when he comes here to-night! Maybe he’ll hand you a new set. I don’t think! What can you do? It’s back to Allen street for yours if I drop you. The old man’ll fire me, you says. What the hell do I care? ‘ ’ll still have the mon’, won’t I? I’m about troo wit’ t’ old stiff anyhow . . . and he don’t need neither me nor you no more, if you want to know it; cos I’ve taught him the ropes. There’s plenty other girls.”