Dora scarcely knew that they had changed their location and continued singing as before, but at last the song jarred upon the nerves of her captor, and he said:
“Stop that! Stop that singing! I won’t have it. You’ll have the whole outfit down upon us like a hungry pack. Stop, I say, or I’ll gag you!”
“Let her alone! Let her alone, I say!” said Muriel, springing forward between them. “Poor thing! she does not know what she is doing. She’ll go to sleep soon.”
“Was it wrong to sing to Bennie? He loves that song. I used to sing it to him before he died. Did you know Bennie is dead? He is, because he would come when I call if he was not dead. Let me show you: ‘Bennie! Bennie!’ You see, he does not answer, and I’ve called and called papa too, but he doesn’t come, either. Do you think he is dead, too? It would be too bad!”
“And you—you human vulture! You would harm this poor, helpless girl!” said Muriel to John.
Dora heard this conversation clearly, but her benumbed faculties could not seem to understand the import of it, for she turned and, laying her dark head on Muriel’s bosom, said:
“Let me tell you a secret, lady. I saw two men, and they came down the steps to my father’s shop, and they killed a man! They shot him, and I saw him die!”
“Now are you satisfied, you interfering cat?” hissed John, with angry vehemence. “I told you she had flashes of returning reason. I have watched her closely and know that we have everything to fear, and I hope you are convinced now that it is unsafe to keep her longer. Every minute she is liable to remember me as the man. Here you stand protecting her as though she were your own, and we all in danger of our lives! There is but one thing to be said and that is, her life or ours! We are in danger every minute we keep her! She must be silenced forever! And now!”
“She shall die in God’s own good time, John Pierson, for so long as I live you shall never lay a finger on her to do her harm! Is it not enough that you have dragged her away from those she held dear, and have thereby destroyed her reason? Listen well to my words, for I will see that she is protected against any further danger. The poor girl!”
“What is your objection? Are you jealous? If that is the case, I can tell you that you have no cause now for all I seek now is to get rid of her. I don’t care how, only so she never crosses my path again. So what is your object in protecting her, if I may be so bold?”