"Good afternoon, Mr. O'Leary," said Kate, rising and advancing to the doorway. "Looking for Dorothy, aren't you? Oh, I know you are. You'll find her down at Mrs. Mace's.... Yes, it's a beautiful day, beautiful. Good afternoon, Mr. O'Leary, good afternoon."
In the face of this Pete O'Leary departed. Kate went into the kitchen. In a few minutes she returned, laughing.
"He didn't go into Lil's," she said. "He went on toward Main Street. I watched him. He's a nervy individual. Dorothy doesn't like him, and I don't, either."
"I wonder if he did come to see Dorothy, or——"
"He came to see me."
"You!" Loudon's surprise was patent.
"Yes, isn't it charming? Turned him out in quick fashion, didn't I? The pest! Dorothy said he clung to her like glue till I came. He's deserted her for me ever since the dance. She baked me a cake. Said it was a reward. She'd never been able to get rid of him. But I'm afraid Dorothy's too tender-hearted. I don't mind being rude. Why, what's the matter?"
"I was just a-wonderin' how much that fellah heard?"
"Oh, nothing," said Kate, carelessly. "We weren't talking loudly, were we? Does it make any difference?"
"It shore does. O'Leary's in with the 88, or I'm a Dutchman."