on. I took the law in my hands an' told him he had to be disciplined.
So I started thrashin' him with a quirt, very light. He took it as if
he didn't feel the whip on his shoulders, an' he smiled. But there
came up a yellow light in his eyes that made me feel as if a man was
standin' right behind me with a bare knife in his hand an' smilin'
jest like the kid was doin'. Finally I simply backed out of the room,
an' since that day there ain't been man or beast ever has put a hand
on Whistlin' Dan. To this day I reckon he ain't quite forgiven me."

"Why!" she cried, "I have never heard him mention it!"

"That's why I know he's not forgotten it. Anyway, Kate, I locked him
in his room, but he wouldn't promise not to run away. Then I got an
inspiration. You was jest a little toddlin' thing then. That day you
was cryin' an awful lot an' I suddenly thought of puttin' you in Dan's
room. I did it. I jest unlocked the door quick and then shoved you in
an' locked it again. First of all you screamed terrible hard. I was
afraid maybe you'd hurt yourself yellin' that way. I was about to take
you out again when all at once I heard Dan start whistlin' and pretty
quick your cryin' stopped. I listened an' wondered. After that I never
had to lock Dan in his room. I was sure he'd stay on account of you.
But now, honey, I'm gettin' to the end of the story, an' I'm goin' to
give you the straight idea the way I see it.

"I've watched Dan like--like a father, almost. I think he loves me,
sort of--but I've never got over being afraid of him. You see I can't
forget how he smiled when I licked him! But listen to me, Kate, that
fear has been with me all the time--an' it's the only time I've ever
been afraid of any man. It isn't like being scared of a man, but of a
panther.