Chapter XXIII
Westerfelt was in the yard back of the stable. He had just started home when he saw a muffled figure enter the front door, and heard Mrs. Floyd asking Washburn if he were in.
"Here I am," he called out; and he approached her as she waited at the door.
"I want to see you a minute, Mr. Westerfelt," she said. "Can you walk back a piece with me?"
"Yes," he replied. "I'm going up to Bradley's to supper."
Outside it was dark; only the lights from the fire in the store and the big lamp on a post in front of the hotel pierced the gloom. A few yards from the stable she turned and faced him.
"Do you intend to kill my child?" she asked, harshly.
"What do you mean?" he answered.
"I mean that you will literally kill her—that's exactly what I mean. You've treated her worse than a brute. What did you do to her this evening? Tell me; I want to know. I have never seen her act so before."