“N-no--but you see, you told me you were coming right back, and then you didn't--and I didn't know whether I was ever going to see you again or not. I thought--” “Well, what was it you thought?” “I thought you probably could have come if you'd wanted to!” “You know better than that, Estelle. The only way I could come was on the schooner, and Cap'n Henry laid me off before the next trip. The minute I had a chance to come up here with this man, I grabbed it. What I'd like to know is, who is there up here that wants to tell lies about me? What else have you heard?” “You--you won't be mad, Joe, if--if I tell?” “Course not. Here, let's sit down.” They found a seat in the hollow of the sand, where the undergrowth screened them. “You see, Joe, I heard that you--were married.” He started up. “That's a lie!” “You said you--wouldn't get mad.” He dropped down again, muttering: “I ain't mad at you, Estelle, but don't you see there's some one that's just setting out to spread these lies. It's enough to rile a fellow. Who was it told you?” “I don't know--it was quite a while back--maybe it was--Josie.” “But she don't know anything about me. Who could 'a' told her?” “I don't know. You won't say anything to her, will you, Joe?” “No, course not. It's funny, that's all. But so long's you don't believe it, I don't suppose I've got any cause for kicking.” “Of course I don't believe it--not now. Before you'd come back, and after all you'd said about--” “About what, Estelle?” “About coming up here for me--and our going away from here--” “That's it,” he broke in eagerly--“that's just it. I couldn't do it then because I didn't have the ready. But now, you see, I've got a little put by, and there ain't nothing to hinder our clearing out o' here for good.” “Isn't there, Joe?” “Not a thing.” “Oh, I'm so glad. You don't know--you don't know how sick I get of this place, and these men around. I most die with it sometimes--feel as if I could go away alone if I knew of any place to go. Once I thought a little of--of just doing it anyhow, and maybe finding you in Chicago. You've told me where your place is, you know, up on the north side.” “Yes, I know, but we can do it now.” “Now, Joe?” “Sure.” “To-day?” “Well--you see--I couldn't hardly do it to-day. I've got to finish my trip.” “Oh--” “Now wait, Estelle. If I got impatient, I'd lose the trick, don't you see. This man, Dick Smiley, is working for the man that's got to help me. I know a way to make him back me--set me up in my own place in some new town maybe. I couldn't leave Smiley in the lurch without getting his boss down on me. I've got a hold on him, but he'd never stand for that. This Smiley's a no-good lot, but I've got to stick out this trip with him.” “But--then you 'll be back in Chicago.” “I know. I'm coming up here by train. Or say I meet you at Saginaw.” “You thought you could do that before.”