"I'll meet you at the gate, I'll have the buggy on down the road a
little ways," Morgan told her. "There's only a little while between you
and liberty now, sweetheart."

Joe dared not look up nor move, but he needed no eyes to know that
Morgan kissed her then. After that he heard her running away toward the
house. Morgan stood there a little while, whistling softly. Soon Joe
heard him going in the direction of the road.

Morgan was quite a distance ahead when Joe sprang out of his concealment
and followed him, for he wanted to give Ollie time to pass beyond
ear-shot of the orchard. As Joe made no attempt to smother the sound of
his feet, Morgan heard him while he was still several yards behind him.
He turned, stopped, and waited for Joe to come up.

Joe's agitation was plain in his face, his shocked eyes stared out of
its pallor as if they had looked upon violence and death.

"What's the matter, kid?" inquired Morgan carelessly.

"I've got something to say to you," answered Joe thickly. He was
panting, more from rage than exertion; his hands trembled.

Morgan looked him over from boots to bandless hat with the same evidence
of curiosity as a person displays when turning some washed-up object
with the foot on the sands. It was as if he had but an abstract interest
in the youth, a feeling which the incident had obtruded upon him without
penetrating the reserve of his private cogitations.

"Kid, you look like you'd seen a snake," said he.

"You let that woman alone--you've got to let her alone, I tell you!"
said Joe with explosive suddenness, his passion out of hand.

Morgan's face grew red.

"Mind your own business, you sneakin' skunk!" said he.

"I am minding it," said Joe; "but maybe not as well as I ought to 'a'
done. Isom left me here in his place to watch and look after things, but
you've sneaked in under my arm like a dirty, thieving dog, and
you've--you've----"

Morgan thrust his fist before Joe's face.

"That'll do now--that'll do out of you!" he threatened.

Joe caught Morgan's wrist with a quick, snapping movement, and slowly
bent the threatening arm down, Morgan struggling, foot to foot with him
in the test of strength. Joe held the captured arm down for a moment,
and they stood breast to breast, glaring into each other's eyes. Then
with a wrench that spun Morgan half round and made him stagger, Joe
flung his arm free.

"Now, you keep away from here--keep away!" he warned, his voice growing
t