“Please don’t let’s have any cheap flirting, Gordon. I’m bothered enough as it is, by this predicament you’ve forced upon me.” “I’ve forced upon you! Madge, if I didn’t have a whale of a lot of patience, you’d certainly get my goat. Here you are, away out here in this God-forsaken spot alone with me in the dark, and you act as if we were in the middle of Main Street, Springfield, with a whole flock of cops looking on!” “Just what do you mean to infer by that, Gordon? Is there any reason for me to expect anything but the most correct conduct from you?” “You can’t go provoking and tantalizing a fellow and expect him to remain a dummy—forever!” “Meaning just what, Gordon. You may speak plainly.” “Aunt Gracia ought to have wised you to a few things. Then you’d try to be more agreeable.” “Your Aunt Gracia has ‘wised me to a few things’ as you so crudely term it. Which is why I’m not afraid of you in the least.” “Madge, let’s cut this out! I’ve got a rotten temper and I know it. Sometimes it’s a devil of a job to hang on to it. So let’s talk of pleasanter things. This breakdown gives me just the chance I’ve wanted for a darn long time—the chance to talk about you! Madge, look here! I might as well get it out of my system right off the bat and have it done for good and all. Madge, honest-to-God, I love you!——” “Gordon!” “Oh, never mind the high-horse stuff! It’s no crime for a fellow to love a girl——” “No, but it’s a contemptible thing to intrigue one into a dilemma where she must listen to your insults whether she cares to or not!” “Insults!” “Very much so, Gordon. If you were a gentleman——” “Lookit, Madge! Do you know what I could do to you, if I wanted?” “Yes. Being stronger physically, there are many things you could do to me—if you wanted. The question is, would you? I hardly think you would——” “Wouldn’t I, though? I know this game! I’ve played it before!” It was a reckless assertion but it escaped before Gordon gave it thought. His worldly wisdom had been gained through contact with femininity whose motto was: “Treat me rough, kid,—treat me rough!” He believed a woman enjoyed being “mauled”, even though she protested; that the man ultimately won who had the nerve to play out his hand. And he had never been seriously called to account for indiscretions to date. Madelaine’s attitude was cool dare—a challenge—or he so assumed. He proceeded to accept that challenge—to show her what unleashed male strength could do. Laughing coolly, the lad’s arm closed tightly around Madelaine’s shoulders. His left hand caught her two wrists and held them firmly. He pulled the girl’s face toward him. He kissed her—as much and as long as he pleased.