What a flood of memories rushed over him.
Sal watched him. She knew now where she had seen such a face before. It was like Willie's face when he was at the point of death.
Jim Dennis looked at the sleeping woman again, and his features became hard and stern; his mouth was cruel and his eyes flashed ominously.
Yes, it was Maud come back. The woman who had so deeply wronged him and blighted his name, the woman who had disowned her own son—he could have forgiven her, perhaps, but for that.
He went inside and took up his revolver.
Sal looked at him, terrified, then she darted forward and held him by the arm.
'No, no, not that, master, not that. I know her. It is Willie's face. You found me there half dead and carried me in your arms and restored me to life. You cannot kill her. She is Willie's mother!'
He still held the revolver and shook her off.
'It is murder, murder—and a woman in her sleep. Jim Dennis, you are a coward for the first time! Deal with the man who wronged her and you. Have a settling day with him first.'
She had roused him. The taunt struck home.