knew then I'd have to tell him straight in words.

"Tom," I gasped, "you can have all I've got; and it's plenty
to get you out of the way. But--but you can't have--me--any more.
That's--done!"

Oh, the beast in his face! It must have looked like that when the
guard got his last glimpse of it.

"You're kiddin' me?" he growled.

I shook my head.

Then he ripped it out. Said the worst he could and ended with a
curse! The blood boiled in me. The old Nance never stood that;
she used to sneer at other women who did.

"Get out of here!" I cried. "Go--go, Tom Dorgan. I'll send
every cent I've got to you to Mother Douty's within two hours,
but don't you dare--"

"Don't YOU dare, you she-devil! Just make up your mind to drop
these newfangled airs, and mighty quick. I tell you you'll come
with me 'cause I need you and I want you, and I want you now. And
I'll keep you when once I get you again. We'll hang together. No
more o' this one-sided lay-out for me, where you get all the soft
and it's me for the hard. You belong to me. Yes, you do. Just
think back a bit, Nance Olden, and remember the kind of customer
I am. If you've forgot, just let me remind you that what I know
would put you behind bars, my lady, and it shall, I swear, if