“But, look here!” he said. “You mean she is sending you away?” “It seems to be that.” “It does, does it?” said Alberson, and he was out of his chair and on his way to the kitchen, and did not wait, although she called, “Johnnie, wait!” after him. Henrietta ate her breakfast slowly. She could hear Johnnie's briskly cheerful tone and Miss Susan's voice--at first hard and obstinate, and then yielding. Johnnie came back into the din-ing-room and sat opposite Henrietta again. “That's all right now,” he said. “You don't have to go unless you want to. She's willing to have you stay.” “She is? Miss Susan is? Whatever did you say to her?” Johnnie leaned forward and smiled at Henrietta. “I'm an Alberson, you know; one of the River-bank Albersons,” he said. “We are used to having our way.” “But that's no reason--that's--she would not let that change her mind. You said something else.” “Why, yes; I did,” said Johnnie. “I told her you were going to marry an Alberson. I told her you were going to marry me.” Henrietta put down her fork and looked at him squarely. “But I told you I had a husband. You know I have a husband in Colorado. I told you so.” “Of course. I remember that. I honor you for that, Henrietta. But of course it was all a lie. You have no husband in Colorado. Have you?” Henrietta tried to look into his eyes and say she had, but his eyes would not look into hers seriously. They twinkled mischievously and looked through her eyes into her heart. She drew a deep breath, like one drowning, and looked down. “No,” she said. “I have no husband--in Colorado.” CHAPTER XXII Moses Shuder, having paid Saint Harvey of Riverbank his good money, went back to his own junkyard feeling high elation. The great ambition that had urged him ever since he had begun, a raw immigrant, was consummated. He was the mightiest Junk King of Riverbank. He need fear no paltry competition. He could put prices down and he could buy or refuse to buy, and he could put prices up, and no one would interfere. He saw himself the future great man of his people, bringing his downtrodden compatriots from Russia, sending them out upon the roads of free America to glean the waste metals and rags, setting them up in small trades, financing them, being a father to them. He had eliminated Harvey Redding. But as he considered the transaction he began to worry. It is the duty of every man, in making a bargain, to make a good bargain--in fact, the best possible bargain--and Shuder began to fear he had not done that. Saint Harvey had accepted his offer almost too promptly.