"It's the only thing I can see to do," replied Ann, with catching breath.
"You'll come with him and me, Katherine, and we'll take him to the car, while he is subdued. You, Ann, dress that child, and wait here for Horace. I'll come back directly. I must place Cronk with the conductor, for fear--"
"Don't be long," begged Ann. "I'm so afraid!"
"No, only long enough to signal the train and get them aboard. You must be brave, dear girl, and we must all remember what he has suffered. His heart is as big as the world, and I can't forget that, indirectly, I brought this upon him." He turned his glance upon the squatter, and Katherine's eyes followed his. The lines about Lon's mouth had softened with tenderness, his eyes were filled with adoration. Katherine flashed him back a sad smile.
"The little Midge!" murmured Lon. "I'll never steal ag'in--never! And I'll jest fish and work fer my little woman--my pretty woman!"
Vandecar rose and went to the squatter.
"Lon," he said, placing a hand upon the rough jacket, "will you bring your little--" He was about to say daughter, but changed the word to "Midge," and continued, "Will you bring Midge to my car and come to Tarrytown with us?"
Cronk stared vacantly.
"Nope," he drawled; "I'll stay here in the hut with Midge. It's dark, and she's afraid of ghosts. I'll never steal ag'in, Mister, so I can't get pinched."
Vandecar still insisted: "But won't you let your little girl come back and get her clothes? And you, too, can come to our home, for--for a visit." His face crimsoned as he prevaricated.
But Lon still shook his head.
"A squatter woman's place be in her home with her man," he said.
Vandecar turned helplessly upon Katherine.
"You persuade him," he entreated in an undertone.
Katherine whispered her desire in her father's ear.
"We'll go only for a few days," she promised.
"And ye'll come back here?" he demanded.
The girl glanced toward Governor Vandecar, and caught the slight inclination of his head.
"Yes," she promised; "yes, we'll come back, if you are quite well."
Cronk stooped down and pressed his lips to hers.
"I'd a gone with ye, Midge, 'cause I couldn't say no to nothin' ye asked me." But he halted, as they tried to lead him through the door.
"I don't like the dark," he muttered, drawing back.