For the next few days Jordan Morse turned over in his mind numerous plans to remove Jinnie from Grandoken's home, but none seemed feasible. As long as Lafe knew his past and stood like a rock beside the girl, as long as Theodore King was interested in her, he himself was powerless to do anything. How to get both the cobbler and his niece out of the way was a problem which continually worried him.
He mentioned his anxiety to Molly, asking her if by any means she could help him.
"I did tell her I'd write to you," said Molly.
Morse's face fell.
"She's a stubborn little piece," he declared presently. "Theo's in love with her all right."
"You don't really mean that!" stammered Molly, her heart thumping.
"Perhaps not very seriously, but such deep interest as his must come from something more than just the girl's talent. He spoke about sending her away to school."
"He shan't," cried Molly, infuriated.
Morse's rehearsal of Theodore's suggestion was like goads in her soul.
"If she'd go," went on the man, "nothing you or I could do would stop him. The only way----"
Molly whirled upon him abruptly.
"I'll help you, Jordan, I will.... Anything, any way to keep him from her."
They were both startled and confused when Theodore came upon them suddenly with his swinging stride, but before Morse went home, he whispered to Molly: "I've thought of something--tell you to-morrow."
That night Molly scarcely slept. The vision of a black-haired girl in the arms of Theodore King haunted her through her restless dreams, and the agony was so intense that before the dawn broke over the hill she made up her mind to help her husband, even to the point of putting Jinnie out of existence.
That morning Morse approached her with this command: "You try to get Jinnie to go with you to Mottville. You wouldn't have to stay but a day or so. There your responsibilities would end.... I'll be there at the same time.... Will you do it, Molly?"
"Yes," said Molly, and her heart began to sing and her eyes to shine. Her manner to Jordan as he left was more cordial than since his return from Europe.
At noon time, when Theodore King saw her walking, sweetly cool, under the trees, he joined her. Molly had donned the dress he had complimented most, and as he approached her, she lifted a shy gaze to his.
"You couldn't take me to-morrow, you're sure?" she begged, her voice low, deep and appealingly resonant.
Theodore hesitated. Being naturally chivalrous and kindly, he disliked to refuse, but he had already sent a note to Jinnie to meet him at the master's Saturday, and it went against his inclination to break that appointment.