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"Sit down here, Everett," Ann urged, "and tell me if you have ever tried to find them." "I asked my fath Mr. Brimbecomb today." His faltering words and the change of appellation shocked Ann; but she did not chide him, for he was speaking again. "I told him that, now I was through college and had been admitted to the bar, I insisted upon knowing who my own people were.
After finishing the letter, Horace said to Ann, "I must see Brimbecomb at once." And he turned abruptly and went out. Ann followed him hurriedly. "Horace, dear, you won't quarrel with him, for my sake." "Not unless he had a hand in taking her away. God! I'm so troubled I can't think."
"Ann is the one who is keeping me from thumping you, Brimbecomb. If you know anything of Fledra Cronk, I want you to tell me." "I've told you all I know," Everett answered. "For Ann's sake, I hope you've told me the truth; but, if you haven't, and have done anything to my little girl, then God protect you!"
He made an attempt to take her hand; but, as once before, Fledra flung her arms behind her. "I 'low as she don't like ye, young feller," said Lon, with a laugh. "Does it matter to you, Cronk?" retorted Brimbecomb. "Not a damned bit!" "Then go and make your arrangements with your one-armed friend and leave your daughter here with me." "Ye be in too big a hurry, my fine buck!
Horace turned his eyes toward the speaker wrathfully. He wondered if he had understood correctly what was implied by the other's words. "What did you say, Brimbecomb?" Everett drew his left leg over his right knee deliberately. "I think the girl pretty enough to make a capital toy for an hour," said he. Disbelief flooded Shellington's face. "You're joking!
Brimbecomb good naturedly demanded if Ann intended to start a kindergarten. He recounted how Mr. and Mrs. Vandecar had received their excuses, and then said: "Ann, Mrs. Vandecar thought you so charitably inclined. She seemed quite exercised over the story. But you don't intend to keep them here after tomorrow morning, do you?"
This having been done, it placed an unlooked-for stay upon Everett Brimbecomb; but he secured a court order instructing the sheriff to guard the children at the Shellington home until the boy was well enough to be taken out. So, a deputy was stationed in the house. In the meantime Lon watched eagerly for the coming of Lem.
Don't stand there and smile so provokingly. If you could only understand how I have worried over him!" Brimbecomb put on a grave face. "Haven't you a very pretty girl in the house who is constantly under his eye?" Still Ann did not betray understanding. "Don't you think," asked Everett slowly, "that he might have fallen in love with this little Fledra?" An angry sparkle gleamed in Ann's eyes.
Everett screamed once, then was silent; for with his unmaimed hand the scowman had grasped his enemy's throat and was shaking the body as a dog does a rat. In his frenzy, Lem threshed and tumbled Brimbecomb about on the hut floor, the sight of his rival's blood sending him mad; and always the sound of his gasps and chokes rose above the struggle.
"Can you tell me," his agitation did not allow him to speak calmly, "can you tell me, please, where Lon Cronk lives?" Although his question was low and broken, Scraggy caught each word. "Down to the edge of the lake, Mister," she replied. "It's a goin' to be a dark night to be out in, ain't it?" In his relief, Brimbecomb drew a long breath. She had not recognized him!
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