Lem lifted the steel hook in deep reflection and caught the clasps together.
"I'm a wonderin', Lon," he said presently, "if I'm to ever git her."
"Yep, tomorry," assured Lon.
"Honest Injun?" demanded Lem.
"Honest Injun," replied Lon. "If ye takes her tonight, she'll only cut up like the devil. That's the worst of them damn women, they be too techy when they come of stock like her."
"I like 'em when they're techy--it ain't so easy to make 'em do what a man wants 'em to as 'tis t'other kind--say like Scraggy. I love a gal what'll spit in yer face. God! what a lickin' Flea'll git, if she tries any of them fine notions of her'n on me! For every kiss Shellington gived her, I'll draw blood outen her hide!" Lem paused in his work, and then added in a stammering undertone, "But I love the huzzy!"
The other bent far forward to catch the scowman's words, delighting in the mental picture of Fledra's lithe body writhing under the lash. The proud spirit of the girl would break under the physical pain!
* * * * *
Fledra was still lying on the bed when Lon returned to the hut.
"Git up and git supper!" Cronk growled in her ear.
Mechanically she rose, sliced a few cold potatoes into the skillet, and arranged the table for one person.
"Put down two plates!" roared the squatter.
"I can't eat, Lon," Flea said in a whisper.
He noticed that she had dropped the paternal prefix.
"Put down another plate, I say!" he shouted. "Ye be goin' to Lem's tomorry, and ye'll go tonight if ye put on any airs with me! See?"
Fledra placed a plate for herself, and sat down opposite Lon. Choking, she crushed the food into her mouth and swallowed it with effort. For even one night's respite she would suffer anything!
* * * * *
After the dishes were cleared away Fledra knelt by the open window, and peered out upon the water. She turned tear-dimmed eyes toward the college hill, and allowed her mind to travel slowly over the road she and Floyd had taken in September. Rapidly her thoughts came to the Shellington home, and she imagined she saw her brother and Horace listening to Ann as she read under the light of the red chandelier. How happy they all looked, how peaceful they were--and by her gift! She breathed a sigh as the shadows crept long over the darkening lake.
She glanced at the clock, and counted from its dial the hours until morning. She wished that the sun would never rise; that some unexpected thing would snatch her from the hut before the night-shades disappeared into the dawn. Cronk moved, and the girl turned with a startled face. How timid she had grown of late! She remembered distinctly that at one time she had loved the chirp of the cricket, the mournful croak of the marsh frogs; but tonight they maddened her, filled her with an ominous fear such as she had never before felt. When Lon saved her from drowning, and had scathed Lem for his actions, she had hoped--oh, how she had hoped!--that he would let her fill Granny Cronk's place. She glanced at the squatter again.