“It ain't necessary to read that. It's private business.” “I have read it.” “You have read it! You've been prying into my affairs, have you?” “Not at all. I found this on the ground and read it. You must have written it back there when you kept us waiting. You had no business to do it. I never saw such a fool as you are.” As he spoke, he touched the match to the paper. “Here, quit that! Don't you burn that letter!” “Now, Joe, you didn't think for a minute I'd let you send this, did you?” “What right you got--” “The right of self-preservation. We can't do any letter writing yet awhile. I 'll help you out with money, but I won't let you do this sort of thing. Let's start back.” He led the way to the road, McGlory sullenly following; and side by side they stepped out for the farmhouse. “Beastly sort of a thing to do, Joe,--ask Madge for money to help you run off with this woman.” “Well, I'd like to know--Ain't she had enough from me--” “I don't doubt she has stood a good deal from you. What sort of a woman is she, Joe?” “Madge? Oh, she's all right.” “Pretty fond of you, isn't she?” “I guess there ain't much doubt about that.” “I've noticed her a little.” “Oh, you have, have you?” “Certainly. What else can you expect, skylarking around this way?” “That's all right. A man's got to have his fling. But when it comes to--” “Madge is a fine-looking woman. I don't believe you know how pretty she is, Joe. If you got her decent clothes, and took her out to the theatre now and then, so she could keep her spirits up, she would be hard to beat.” This was a new idea to McGlory. But what he said was, “Seems to me you've done a lot of thinking about my wife.” “It's your own fault. But look here, do you think such an awful lot of Estelle?” “Oh, yes. I've had some fun with her. Of course, she ain't the woman that Madge is.” “I was wondering a little--” McGlory's companion paused. “What was you wondering?” “What you're going to do with Estelle when you find her.” “Do with her? Why--why--” “You didn't think she'd come right back to you--things the same as they was before--did you?” “Why--” “Did she know you had a wife?” “Well, no,--she didn't know that.” “But she does now. She has read the letter.” McGlory had not thought of this. “Estelle isn't altogether a fool, you know. Not so bad as Roche--or you. If I were you, I'd stick to Madge. If you don't, some better fellow will.” “Who do you mean now, for instance?” “Never mind who I mean. I don't think you've seen yet how mussy this business is. Here Estelle is, like enough, on our hands. Now we can't leave her behind. She wouldn't come along with you; and even if she would, she isn't strong enough. If we did leave her here, it simply means that she would be blabbing out the whole story to the first goodlooking chap that asked her a few questions.” “But don't you see? I can't let a man insult me like Roche done.”