human
You were always quizzing, she said, with an attempt at a laugh--
gpt
You were meant to succeed--you had to,
human
I've been a failure--a dead failure, he answered, slowly.
gpt
So they say. So they said. You heard them, Jo.
human
Oh, those drunken fools! she exclaimed, indignantly, and her face hardened.
gpt
How I hate drink! It spoils everything.
human
What brings you out here, Jo?
gpt
Dorland,
human
Dorl! he said, heavily.
gpt
What for, Jo? What do you want with Dorl?
human
When Cynthy died she left her five hundred dollars a year to the baby, and--
gpt
Yes, yes, I know. Well, Jo?
human
Well, it was all right for five years--Dorland paid it in; but for five years he hasn't paid anything. He's taken it, stolen it from his own child by his own honest wife. I've come to get it--anyway, to stop him from doing it any more. His own child--it puts murder in my heart, Nett! I could kill him.
gpt
That's likely. And you've kept Dorl's child with your own money all these years?
human
I've got four hundred dollars a year, Nett, you know; and I've been dressmaking--they say I've got taste,
gpt
Five years. That's twenty-five hundred dollars he's stolen from his own child. It's eight years old now, isn't it?
human
Bobby is eight and a half,
gpt
And his schooling, and his clothing, and everything; and you have to pay for it all?
human
Oh, I don't mind, Nett; it isn't that. Bobby is Cynthy's child, and I love him--love him; but I want him to have his rights. Dorl must give up his hold on that money--or--
gpt
Or you'll set the law on him?
human
It's one thing or the other. Better to do it now when Bobby is young and can't understand.
gpt
Or read the newspapers,
human
I don't think I've a hard heart, she continued,
gpt
How did you know he was up here?
human
From the lawyer that pays over the money. Dorland has had it sent out here to Kowatin this two years. And he sent word to the lawyer a month ago that he wanted it to get here as usual. The letter left the same day as I did, and it got here yesterday with me, I suppose. He'll be after it--perhaps to-day. He wouldn't let it wait long, Dorl wouldn't.
gpt
To-day--to-day--
human
I've been watching for him all day, and I'll watch till he comes. I'm going to say some things to him that he won't forget. I'm going to get Bobby's money, or have the law to do it--unless you think I'm a brute, Nett.
gpt
That's all right. Don't worry about me, Jo. He's my brother, but I know him--I know him through and through. He's done everything that a man can do and not be hanged. A thief, a drunkard, and a brute--and he killed a man out here, he added, hoarsely.
human
I found it out myself--myself. It was murder.