Part 29 (1/2)
He said nothing, but reaching out he clasped Douglas by the hand. Then with head erect and a new light in his eyes, he turned and made his way slowly toward the road.
CHAPTER XIX
WARMER THAN HE EXPECTED
Joe had gone but a short distance up the road when Ben Stubbles met him in his car, and enveloped him in a cloud of dust. Ben was alone and he scowled as the old man stepped aside to let him pa.s.s. Douglas, who was watching, felt thankful that Joe was ignorant of the driver's part in Jean's ruin.
Seeing Douglas standing under the tree, Ben drew up his car and asked him what he was doing there.
”Attending to my own affairs,” was the cool reply.
”Amusing the old man, eh? You must have a d.a.m.n lot of work to do if you can afford to waste your time that way.”
”That, too, is my own affair, and not yours. Have you anything more to say?”
”Sure I have. I want to know what you are doing here.”
”Why shouldn't I be here?”
”But you received orders to leave.”
”Who gave them?”
”Dad, of course.”
”What right had he to order me away?”
”Oh, he rules here.”
”Well, he doesn't rule me, and I shall leave when I get ready, and not before.”
”You'll change your tune before long, though.”
”I will, eh?”
”Sure. You'll find this place so d.a.m.n hot for you that you'll be glad to get out.”
”H'm,” and Douglas gave a sarcastic laugh. ”You have tried to make it hot for me already, so I believe. How did you succeed?”
”What do you mean?” Ben demanded.
”You know as well as I do. You set two men upon me the other night, as you were too much of a coward to face me yourself. Now you understand my meaning. If you want to make things hot for me, step right out here. Now is your chance.”
”I wouldn't foul my hands fighting a thing like you,” Ben snarled.
”No, simply because you know what would happen to you. You are too cowardly to face a man, but you have no hesitation about ruining an innocent girl, and leaving her to a miserable fate.”
At these words Ben clutched the door of his car, threw it open and stepped quickly out upon the road. His face was livid with rage, and his body was trembling.
”Explain yourself!” he shouted. ”How dare you make such a charge?”