The big man’s fierce expression softened to one of pain. He looked at Molly for several moments before turning back to Jack.
“They didn’t do that, did they, Jack?” he asked, half whispering.
“The —— they didn’t!”
“They—they made ’em afraid of me—the little kids?”
King took a half step toward Jack, ignoring the gun. It is doubtful that he remembered the gun. Jack nodded emphatically.
“I’ve heard ’em say it, King. I’ve seen kids playin’ a game. They’d draw straws to see who’d be King, and he’d have to run the gauntlet. They’d take slats——”
“Don’t say that!” King rubbed the back of his right hand across his eyes, as if bewildered. “My ——! Even the little kids.” He grasped the back of a chair to steady himself. “Why did they do that? I’ve never harmed a kid. Good ——, what do they think I am?”
“And they think the same of Molly, I suppose,” said Jack wearily. “I didn’t give her a square deal by marryin’ her and bringin’ her here. But I didn’t think how it would be. I married her because I loved her, King. I didn’t ask you for her. I took her. You would have interfered if you had known about it.”
“No, Jack,” King whispered his denial. “Molly had a right to her own happiness.”
“Then why did you use her to spy on us?”