“What are you going to do?” inquired Ellen, in some alarm. “Won’t it go?”
“When I get ready,” said Jim.
He turned and faced her squarely:
“We’ll have this out, before we go a foot further! I won’t have the whole town talking,” he said savagely.
Ellen said nothing. She was rather angry.
“The devil!” cried Jim Dodge. “What’s the matter with you, Ellen?”
“With me?” she repeated.
“Yes. Why can’t you talk?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I want to go home,” she said.
He seized her roughly by the wrist. “Ellen,” he said, “I believe you know more than you are willing to tell.” He stared down into her eyes. “What did he say to you, anyway?”