Jordan Morse claims you. If you reach eighteen safely, burn the letter.”

He paused and took out a pocketbook.

“Money is scarce these days, but take this and it’ll get you to Grandoken’s. It’s all I have, anyway. Now go along to bed.” 27

27

He handed the envelopes to her, and his hand came in contact with hers. The very touch of it, the warmth and life surging through her, gave a keener edge to his misery.

Virginia took the letters and money. She walked slowly to the door. At the threshold she halted, turning to her father.

“May I take the cats with me?” she called back to him.

She started to explain, but he cut her words off with a fierce ejaculation.

“Hell, yes!” he snapped. “Damn the cats! Get out!”

Once in the hall, Virginia stood and looked back upon the closed door.

“I guess he don’t need me to teach him swear words,” she told herself in a whisper.

Then she went down to the kitchen, where Matty sat dreaming over a wood fire.

28

CHAPTER II

A WHITE PRESENCE

“Does yer pa want me?” grunted Matty, lifting a tousled black head.

Virginia made a gesture of negation.

“No, he told me to get the hell out,” she answered. “So I got! He’s awful sick! I guess mebbe he’ll die!”

Matty nodded meaningly.

“Some folks might better ’a’ stayed to hum for the past ten years than be runnin’ wild over the country like mad,” she observed.

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