Ed did so, and returned to his blankets. "Let's have a smoke," he suggested cosily.
They lit up. Sam's pipe, however, went out immediately.
"I suppose you think I'm crazy," he said deprecatingly.
"Oh, I've been young myself," replied Ed.
"If you don't mind I want to talk about it," said Sam. "It's driving me crazy!"
"Fire away," assented Ed. "Is it a woman?"
"Yes," replied Sam. "How did you know?"
Ed smiled to himself.
"She's no good!" went on Sam bitterly. "That's what hurts. She's just a scheming, lying savage! She's only working to get me in her power. I can't trust her. I've got good reason to know that, and yet—oh God! she's right in my blood! I can't stop thinking about her a minute.
"Sometimes I think she's a good woman, you know, the real thing, gentle and true! It's my imagination makes me think that. I know she's no good—but it's driving me crazy. I want her so bad, it seems as if I'd die if I didn't go back to her. That's what she wants, to get me under her thumb. I'm a fool! I've got no strength to resist her!"