“Because I have n't it, that's all! I'm slow. Henrietta, she likes him best. She likes me, but I have no chance with him around. He has to go. You've got to give me facts. Where is this wife of his? How can I prove he has a wife? You owe it to me, and to Gay, and to the wife, to tell me.” “It is enough that I say so. You can tell him I told you.” Carter Bruce hesitated. “I'm sorry,” he said, “but that is n't enough. I--” Henrietta looked at him steadily for a moment and then let her eyes fall. “I know what you mean,” she said. “You mean you can't trust my words. You mean I am a liar.” “I have to be frank,” Carter said. “Gay has told me about William Vane. She does not believe there is a William Vane. When I told her--” “You told her I had said Freeman has a wife?” asked Henrietta. “And you promised not to tell, Carter!” “I told her.” “Well?” “She said, 'Perhaps Henrietta is romancing again.'” Across the street Gay came out upon her porch. She waved a hand, and Henrietta returned the salutation, but the next moment she guessed it had not been meant for her, for Freeman came around the house, waving to Gay as he came. Henrietta put her hand on Carter's arm. “No, I can't tell you more,” she said breathlessly. “I'm sorry--only it is true he has a wife. It is true, Carter.” Carter's eyes hardened. He walked down the steps of the porch and toward Freeman, until he faced him. “You are a sneak and a cur and a cad,” he said, “and I am going to give you this every time I see you.” He shot out his fist and it struck Freeman on his cheek, throwing him to the ground. An instant he lay there and then he was on his feet and, mad with rage, had leaped for Carter. Henrietta screamed. From across the street Gay came, her palms pressed to her cheeks. The fight was all over before she reached the two men. Bruce stood arranging his tie, but Freeman lay where the last blow had sent him, prone on the grass. Carter laughed, pantingly. “Every time I meet you, remember,” he said, and turned to Gay. “I thrashed him,” he said, but Gay dropped to her knees beside the prostrate man. “Freeman! Freeman!” she cried; and then to Carter, “You brute! You cruel brute!” “Oh, just as you wish!” said Carter Bruce, and laughed again, and went across the yard to the steps and out of the gate. “Get up!” Henrietta said, coldly, to Freeman. “Oh! how can you be so cruel!” Gay cried, but Henrietta did not change her tone. “Get up!” she repeated. “Get up and go into the house.” “How can you speak to him like that!” cried Gay, and she helped Freeman to arise. He was rather badly battered, and tried to hide the side of his face where the worst blows had fallen. He laughed thinly. “He's bigger than I am,” he said. “He hit me before I expected it.” “He's a brute!” said Gay again. “Go in the house!” Henrietta ordered; and without more ado Freeman picked up his hat and went into the house. Henrietta followed him.