“Why do you ask?”
“Because she has sent me her resignation, and I desire to find out where she has gone and why she has skipped.”
“Skipped?” There was instant anger in John’s loud tone. “What d’ye mean, ‘skipped’?”
“Run away, if you like it better.” It was impossible to mistake Hale’s sneering manner. With a curse, John started from his chair.
“You—” he began.
“Quiet, John,” cautioned Hale suavely. “Hear what I have to say before you lose your temper.”
John dropped back in his chair. “Go on,” he shouted, “but don’t try me too far; keep a civil tongue when you speak of Polly—she is pure and sweet and I’ll not have her character defiled.”
“And she met Austin here on Tuesday night,” Hale commented dryly. “You know Austin’s reputation—sit down!” as John again started to his feet. “Either hear me to the end or leave now,” and Hale threw himself back in his seat. “I will not be interrupted every second.”
With difficulty the younger brother mastered his rage. At all cost he felt that he must get information about Polly, and he could do so only by maintaining self-control. He knew his brother too well to doubt that if Hale awoke to the fact that John desired such information he would withhold it from sheer deviltry.
“I am listening,” he said sullenly. “Only remember, my time is valuable.”