turned for the last time toward the door.

"Cut that out!" said Jude. "You're just acting. You can't pull me by the
nose, but it will pay you to calm down and listen to what I've got to
say. I've heard from your father!"

"Have you?" The white impassive face did not change expression.

"Yes; by thunder! I have; and as it concerns you as much as it does me,
you better take more interest. I heard from him more'n two weeks ago. I
met him, too, in the south woods, a few nights back."

"What's he hiding for?" the monotonous tone jarred Jude more than any
outbreak of temper could have done. His recent restraint, and his
pent-up plans had worn his nerves to the raw edge. He was in the slow,
consuming stage of emotions that was likely to lead him to a desperate
move if he were balked.

"Now look here," he blurted out; "you and me has got to get down to
business, and that to once! I've kept mum long of the kid's taking-off."
Joyce's eyes widened as she stared through the open window over which
the rose-vine was being lashed by a new storm.

"I've bided my time, and it was more for you than for me, you can bet.

"This is the big time of our lives, and I ain't going to hold back any
facts what can make things clear and reasonable. Me and your father want
you, maybe for different reasons, maybe not. You ain't the common sort,
and we know you can help us. If you was like most women, him and me
wouldn't have no compunctions about cutting, and leaving you to ways
what you seem to hanker after. But he's actually pining for a sight of
you, and even knowing what I do about you, I can't give you up! That's
the plain situation as far as you're concerned, and you can take it for
what it's worth. Are you listening?"

"Oh! yes, yes, I'm listening, Jude." And so she was. She was listening
to the moan in the tree-tops. It sounded like the last plaintive cry her
child had made, and it hurt her cruelly.

"I've got more money in hand, Joyce, than what I ever had--I've got
fifteen hundred dollars."

Somehow this had power to reach the listener as nothing before had done.
Her aching eyes fell upon Jude, and a new fear contracted them.

"Where did you get it--the money--Jude?"

"That's my business. I'm only dealing with facts."

"Yes, but I must know. It--it isn't yours, Jude."

"Isn't it?" Jude laughed. "Well, then, we'll call it mine for argerment.
That pa of yours is a slick one!" The sudden change of subject relaxed
the brief inte