"No!" he cried, "you ain't a-goin' t' get no wedding, Hermy; he don't
mean t' give ye a square deal. He's foolin' ye--foolin' ye, girl! Oh,"
said he through shut teeth, "ye thought I was safe out o' the way, I
guess. You ought t' known better; th' p'lice couldn't hold me, they
never will. Anyway, I've kept tabs on ye--I know as you've been meeting
him--in a wood! I know," here M'Ginnis seemed to choke again, "I know of
you an' him--kissin' an' cuddlin'--oh, I've kept tabs on ye--"
"Yes," she said gently, "I saw your spy at work."
"But y' can't deny it. Y' don't deny it! Say, what kind o' girl are
you?"
"The kind that doesn't fear men like you."
"But y' can't deny meetin' him," he repeated, his hoarse voice
quivering; "you don't deny--kissin' him--in a wood! Only deny it, Hermy,
only say you didn't, an' I'll choke th' life out of any guy as says you
did--only deny it, Hermy."
"But I don't want to deny it. If your spy had ears he can tell you that
we are going to be married. Now go."
Once more M'Ginnis reached up to his throat and trenched off the
neckerchief altogether.
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