"I've got th' Kid,
see--an' he's goin' th' way I want him--he's got to, see?"
"Ah!" she cried, her scorn and fearless pride shattered to trembling
pleading at last. "What do you mean--oh, what do you mean?"
"I mean as I want ye, an' I'm goin' to have ye!" he answered. "I mean
that instead of 'no' you're goin' t' give me 'yes'--for th' Kid's sake!"
"What do you--mean?" she said again between quivering lips, her eyes
full of a growing terror.
"Mean?" he continued relentlessly, viewing her trembling loveliness with
hungry eyes. "Well--that's what I mean!" and he pointed to the broken
flask upon the floor. "If you want t' see it in his face more an' more,
if you want t' smell it in his breath--say 'No!' If you want t' see his
hands begin t' shake, if you want t' hear his foot come stumbling up th'
stair--say 'No!' I guess you remember what it's like--you've seen it all
before. Well, if ye want Arthur t' grow into what his drunken father was
before him--say 'No!'"
"Go away!" she moaned, "go away!"
"Oh, I'll go, but first I'll tell you this--"
"I think not, Mr.
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