, settle away, and when
you get through my turn's comin' to settle; but if you say another word
against Marjie or any other woman, by the holy Joe Spooner, and all the
other saints, you'll walk right out that door, or I'll throw you out as
I'd do anybody else in the same case, no matter if they was masculine,
feminine, or neuter gender. Now you understand me. If you have anything
more to say, say it quick."

Lettie was furious now, but the Conlow blood is not courageous, and she
only ground her teeth and muttered: "Always the same. Nobody dares to
say a word against her. What makes some folks so precious, I wonder?
There's Phil Baronet, now,--the biggest swindle in this town. Oh, I
could tell you a lot about him. I'll do it some day, too. It'll take
more money to keep me still than Baronet's bank notes."

"Lettie," said O'mie in an even voice, "I'm waitin' here to be settled."

"Then let me alone. I'm not goin' to be forever tracked 'round like a
thief. I'll fix you so you'll keep still. Who are you, anyhow? A nobody,
poor as sin, living off of this town all these years; never knowing who
your father nor mother is, nor nobody to care for you; the very trash of
the earth, somebody's doorstep foundling, to set yourself up over me!
You'd ought to 'a been run out of town long ago."

"I was, back in '63, an' half the town came after me, had to drag me
back with ropes, they was so zealous to get me. I wasn't worth it, all
the love and kindness the town's give me. Now, Lettie, what else?"

"Nothing except this. After what Dr. Hemingway said last night
Springvale's gone crazy about Phil again. Just crazy, and he's sure to
come back here. If he does"--she broke off a moment--"well, you know
what you've been up to for four months, trackin' me, and tellin' things
you don't know. Are you goin' to quit it? That's all."

"The evidence bein' in an' the plaintiff restin'," O'mie said gravely,
"it's time for the defence in the case to begin.

"You saved me a trip, my lady, for I was comin' over this very evenin'
to settle with you. But never mind, we can do it now. Judson's havin'
one of his M. E. quarterly conferences up at the Whately house and we
are free to talk this out. You say I'm a contemptible spy. Lettie, we're
a pair of 'em, so we'll lave off the adjective or adverb, which ever it
is, that does that for names of 'persons, places, and things that can be
known or mentioned.' Some of 'em that can be known, can't aven be
m