"I can't face Auntie Sue again, knowing what I know now." He spoke with
passion.

"Of course you would expect to feel that way, wouldn't you?" came the
matter-of-fact answer.

"The only thing I can do," he continued, "is to give myself up, and go
to the penitentiary; arranging, somehow, to do it in such a way that the
reward will go to Auntie Sue. God knows she deserves it! Sheriff Knox
would help me fix that part, I am sure."

For a moment there was a suspicious moisture in Betty Jo's gray eyes.
Then she said, "And you would really go to prison for Auntie Sue?"

"It is the least I can do for her now," he returned.

And Betty Jo must have felt the sincerity of his purpose, for she said,
softly: "I am sure that it would make Auntie Sue very happy to know that
you would do that; and"--she added--"I know that you could not possibly
make her more unhappy and miserable than by doing it, could you?"

Again she had given an unexpected turn to the subject with the usual
convincing question-mark.

"But what can I do?" he demanded, letting himself go a little.

Betty Jo steadied him with: "Well, suppose you listen while I consider?
Did I tell you that 'considering' was another of my strong points, Mr.
Burns? Well, it is. You may consider me while I consider, if you please.