"That's a fact," said Mamma. "An' it's all in consequence of that white-faced charity tramp's meddlin' we've got to get out of here, an' we'll be tracked wherever we go by that drunken gal's bein' along." "Well, ye ain't obliged ter take her, are ye?" queried Franz, as if this part of the subject rather bored him. "Your keepin' _her_ looks all rot to me. She ain't good for nothin' that I kin see, only to spoil good whiskey." Papa and Mamma exchanged glances, and then Papa said: "Jest so, my boy; she spoils good whiskey, but she's safer so than without it. We kin afford to keep her better than we kin afford to turn her loose." "D'ye mean ter say," queried Franz, "that if that gal knew anything, she'd know too much?" "That's about it, my boy." Franz gave vent to a low whistle. "So," he said; "an' _that's_ why ye keep her full o' drugged liquor, eh? I'll lay a pipe that's the old woman's scheme. Have I hit the mark, say?" "Yes, Franzy." "Yes, my boy." "Then what the dickens are ye mincin' about? Why don't ye settle the gal afore we pad?" "Easy, my boy, easy," remonstrates Papa. "Just wot _I_ say, Franz," puts in Mamma. "When we leave here, it won't be safe for us to take her--nor for you, either." "Safe!" cried Franz, springing from the table with excited manner; "safe! It 'ud be ruination! Afore to-morrow we must be out o' this. I ain't goin' to run no chances. If 'twas safe to turn her loose, I'd say do it. I don't believe in extinguishin' anybody when 'tain't necessary; but when _'tis_, why--" He finishes the sentence with a significant gesture. "But, Franz--" begins Mamma, making a feint at remonstrance. "You shet up!" he exclaims; "I'm runnin' this. The gal's been tried an' condemned--jest leave her to me, an' pass on to the next pint. Have ye got a hen-roost handy?" "D'ye think we're in our dotage, Franzy," said Papa plaintively, "that ye ask us such a question? Did ye ever know us to be without two perches?" "Well, is it _safe_, then?" "If we kin git there without bein' tracked, it's safe enough." "Well," said Franz, "we kin do that ef we git an early start, afore our prisoner is missed. As soon as it's still enough, an' late enough, we'll mizzle." "Wot's yer plan, Franzy?" "Easy as a, b, c. You an' the old woman lead the way, ter make sure that there won't be nobody ter bother me, when I come after with the gal." "With the gal?" "Yes; ye don't want ter leave a dead gal here, do ye? Ye might be wanted agin, _fer a witness_." Papa winced and was silent. "But, Franz,--" expostulated Mamma.