" Jim turned away and
began tinkering with one of the wagons.
Douglas had walked up and down in front of the tents again and
again, fighting against a desire to do the very thing that he was
doing, but to no purpose, and now that he was here, it seemed
impossible that he should go away so unsatisfied. He crossed to
Jim and came determinedly to the point.
"Can't I see her, Jim?"
"It's agin the rules." He did not turn.
There was another pause, then Douglas started slowly out of the
lot.
"Wait a minute," called Jim, as though the words had been wrung
from him. The pastor came back with a question in his eyes.
"I lied to you."
"She's NOT well, then?"
"Oh, yes, she's well enough. It ain't that; it's about her being
happy."
"She isn't?" There was a note of unconscious exultation in his
voice.
"No. She AIN'T happy here, and she WAS happy WITH YOU."
"Then, why did she leave me?"
"I don't know. She wasn't goin' ter do it at first. Somethin'
must a-happened afterwards, somethin' that you an' me didn't know
about."
"We WILL know about it, Jim. Where is she?" His quick eye
searched the lot. His voice had regained it's old command. He
felt that he could conquer worlds.
"You can't do no good that way," answered Jim.
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