"You'd better make it a special prayer, Lafe," said Jinnie, a little pucker between her eyes. "Every day I'm more'n more afraid of Maudlin."
"I will, honey, an' just pop into Bates' cottage an' tell Maudlin's pa to run in the shop.... Go long, lass, nobody'll hurt you."
After leaving Lafe's message at the Bates' cottage, Jinnie stepped from the tracks to the marshes with a joyful heart. Of course nothing could harm her! Lafe's faith, mingled with her own, would save her from every evil in the world.
When Bates opened the shop door, the cobbler looked up gravely. He nodded his head to Jasper's, "Howdy do, Grandoken?"
"Sit down," said Lafe.
"Jinnie says you wanted me."
"Yes, a few minutes' chat; that's all!"
"Spit it out," said Bates.
Lafe put down his hammer with slow importance.
"It's this way, Jasper. Maudlin's----"
"What's Maudie done now?" demanded Bates, lighting his pipe.
"He's been botherin' my girl, that's what," responded Lafe.
"Jinnie?"
"Sure. She's all the girl I got.... Maudlin's got to stop it, Bates."
A cruel expression flitted over Jasper's face.
"I ain't nothin' to do with Maudlin's love affairs," said he. "Jinnie could do worse'n get him, I'm a guessin'! Maudie adds up pretty good, Maudie does!"
Lafe shook his head with a grim serenity that became the strained white face.
"His addin' up ain't nothin' to his credit, Jasper," he protested. "He's as crooked as a ram's horn an' you know it. If you don't, take my word for it! There ain't nothin' doin' for him far's Jinnie's concerned!... I sent for you to bargain with you." Jasper pricked up his ears. The word "bargain" always attracted him.
"Well?" he questioned.
"You keep your boy from my girl and I'll do all your family cobblin' for nothin' till Jinnie's a woman."
Bates leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.
"It's a bargain, all right. Them kids of mine do wear out the soles of their shoes some. But, Lafe, I can't tag Maudlin around all day."
Lafe took up his hammer.
"Lick him if he won't mind you, Bates. He's got to let my girl be, and that's all there is to it."
Saying this, he started to work, giving the shortwood gatherer his dismissal. Bates left his chair thoughtfully.
"I'll talk to Maudie," said he, "but he's an onery kid; has been ever since his mother died. He don't git along with his stepma very well, and she's got such a lot of little kids of 'er own she ain't time to train no hulk of a boy like Maudlin."
Pausing a moment, he went on, "Maudlin's been madder'n hell because that duffer King's been haulin' Jinnie's wood. He says----"