Jard wagged his head.
Tom McPhee came in that evening with a face of concern.
“Joe’s gone,” he said. “Steve Dangler come for her, an’ took her out to her grandpa’s. Goose Crick’s no place for a girl like Joe.”
“What the hell did you let her go for?” cried Jard.
“Wouldn’t you of let her go?” returned McPhee pointedly.
Jard sighed, and scratched his nose.
“Well, I wouldn’t of!” exclaimed Miss Hassock. “I wouldn’t of let all the Danglers on the crick budge her an inch out of my house—and you men can put that in your pipes and see how it smokes.”
Hassock and McPhee exchanged expressive glances and uneasy smiles.
“Did old Dave go, too?” asked Jard.
“He did not,” replied McPhee. “He’s comin’ here to-morrow. He says he’ll take Joe back to keep house for him when he rebuilds next summer, but he won’t pay her board to live in idleness.”