Dennis O’Day laughed. He liked her audacity. “But suppose I wouldn’t?”
“But you would. You have never failed me yet, daddy, and you never will. It doesn’t matter much what happens, you’ll stand by me. That is why I felt so sure about coming. Dr. Morgan did not wish me to. She said it would be useless. But she yielded when I insisted that you would do what was right. And you must do it now, daddy.” She drew down his head to kiss him. “You must keep the miners from attacking the mines to-night.”
“I? I’m no miner! What have I to do with the strike? If the men attack that miserable little sneak of a superintendent, what have I to say?”
“Everything. You are not a miner, but they do as you say. They do not know it is so, but you do. I want you to go out there; tell them—tell them anything, only so they do not make the attack to-night.”
“Nonsense. Even if they should do as I say, what’s the odds? I’ve no love for that man Hobart. He’s been fighting me for years. He’ll get no more than he deserves. No, no, Nora. Girls mustn’t meddle.”
“You won’t go?”
“No; ask me anything else than that.”
“Then I’ll tell you what I’ll do. The National Guards are on their way now. When they come, I’ll give them all the information they wish. I know who urged this on. I know who killed the Italian. Oh, I know lots of things that I’ve kept to myself because my telling would harm you. But—” She was excited. Whether she pretended this high state of emotion, or whether it was real, was difficult to tell. She had flung open her coat. The vivid coloring of her gown, her crimson cheeks and flashing eyes made a brilliant bit of coloring in the dark room lighted by a solitary, smoking oil-lamp. Her tones were clear and decisive.
“Why, Nora, listen to reason. How—”
“No, I will not listen to anything but your promise to go and stop that mob. Listen to them yelling like a pack of hyenas. I’m not through yet. You must choose and choose quickly. Stand by the miners or me. If you forsake me, I’ll never see you again. I’ll never let you do anything for me. I’ll be as though you never had a daughter. Then what will be the good of all your money and your saving? There’ll be no one to waste it on; no one to care about you. You know that mother left me enough to live on. Besides, I can work. Will you go?” She fairly blazed her words at him. She stamped her foot until the chairs and tables shook.