myself by ever thinking
anything else.' And last of all, because she did so love Phil once"
(poor Mrs. Whately was the worst of strategists here), "when I tried to
put his case she said indifferently, 'If he did wrong, let him right it.
But he didn't.' Now, Amos, you must talk to her yourself. I don't know
what John Baronet advised her to do."

Talking to Marjie was the thing Amos could not do, and the mention of
John Baronet was worse than the recollection of that callow stripling,
Phil. The widower stormed and scolded and threatened, until Mrs. Whately
turned to him at last and said quietly:

"Amos, I think we will drop the matter now. Go home and think it over."

He knew he had gone too far, and angry as he was, he had the prudence to
hold his tongue. But his purpose was undaunted. His temper was not
settled, however, when Mapleson called on him later in the day. Lettie
was busy marking down prices on a counter full of small articles and the
two men did not know how easily they could be overheard. Judson had no
reason to control himself with Tell, and his wrath exploded then and
there. Neither did Mapleson have need for temperance, and their angry
tones rose to a pitch they did not note at the time.

"I tell you, Amos," Lettie heard Tell saying, "you've got to get rid of
this Conlow girl, or you're done for. Phil's lost that Melrose case
entirely; and he's out where a certain Kiowa brave we know is creepin'
on his trail night and day. He'll never come back. If his disappearance
is ever checked up to Jean, I'll clear the Injun. You can't do a thing
to the Baronets. If this thing gets up to Judge John, you're done for.
I'll never stand by it a minute. You can't depend on me. Now, let her
go."

"I tell you I'm going to marry Marjie, Lettie or no Lettie. Good Lord,
man! I 've got to, or be ruined. It's too late now. I can get rid of
this girl when I want to, but I'll keep her a while."

Lettie dropped her pencil and crept nearer to the glass partition over
the top of which the angry words were coming to her ears. Her black eyes
dilated and her heart beat fast, as she listened to the two men in angry
wrangle.

"He's going to marry Marjie. He'll be ruined if he doesn't. And he says
that after all he has promised me all this Fall and Winter! Oh!" She
wrung her hands in bitterness of soul. Judson had not counted on having
to reckon with Lettie, any more than with Marjie.

That night at prayer meeting, a few more pr