“No, I ain't forgot nothing. Look here, there ain't no use o' getting stagy about this. I ain't told him I 'll do it. I don't believe I will do it.” “Why should you want to, Joe? Aren't you happy here? Aren't you making more money than you ever did on the Lake?” “Why, of course.” “Then why not stay here?” “There's only this about it,” he replied, leaning against the bar, and speaking in an off-hand manner; “Stenzenberger offers me the chance to do both. I could be in here every few days--see you most as much as I do now in a busy season--and make the extra pay clear.” “Oh, that's why you have been thinking you might do it?” “Well, that's the only thing about it that--” He was wondering what was in her other hand. “You see, I can't afford to get the Cap'n down on me.” “You can't? I should think _he_ would be the one that couldn't afford--” “Now see here, Madge.” He stepped up to her, and would have slipped his arm around her waist, but she eluded him. “I guess I 'll go over and see what he has to offer, and then I 'll come back, and you and me can talk it all over and see if we think--” “If _we_ think!” she burst out. “Do you take me for a fool, Joe McGlory? Do you think for a minute I don't know why you want to go--and why you mean to go? Look at that!” She produced a photograph of a pretty, foolish young woman, and read aloud the inscription on the back, “To Joe, from Estelle.” An ugly look came into his eye. “I wouldn't get excited about that kiddishness if I was you.” “So you call it kiddishness, do you, and at your age?” “Well, so long now, Madge. I 'll be back in a few minutes.” “Joe--wait--don't go off like that. Tell me that don't mean anything! Tell me you aren't ever going to see her again!” “Sure, there's nothing in it.” “And you won't see her?” “Why, of course I won't see her. She ain't within five hundred miles of here. I don't know where she is.” “You 'll promise me that?” “You don't need to holler, Madge. I can hear you. Somebody's likely to be coming in any minute, and what are they going to think?” He passed out into the back room, and she followed him. “How soon will you be back, Joe?” She saw that he was putting on his heavy jacket--heavier than was needed to step over to the lumber office. “Just a minute--that's all.” “And you won't promise them anything?” “Why, sure I won't. I wouldn't agree to anything before you'd had a look at it.” He watched her furtively; and she stood motionless, trembling a little, ready at the slightest signal to spring into his arms. But he reached for his hat and went out.