She opened her mouth as if to cry out. The Sheriff threw up both hands.
“Mary, please—For kingdom's sake, don't! What unreasonable creatures women are!”
“You 'd better let women alone. One is as much as you can manage now.” She spoke witheringly. “I give you one more chance.”
“More than I can manage. You know Dick will get drunk——”
“Not unless you make him. Who was drunk at that barbecue at Jones's Cross Roads last summer!”
“Oh, Mary!”
“Who set up till after Sunday mornin' playin' kyards—. Yes, gamblin'' the last night of last County Cote!”
“Oh, Mary!—All right. I lay down my hand.”
She drew paper and pencil from her little bag and held them out to him.
“Write it down.”