human
After Cynthy's death I kept house for him for a year, taking care of little Bobby. I loved Bobby so--he has Cynthy's eyes. One day Dorland--oh, Nett, of course I oughtn't to have stayed there--I know it now; but I was only sixteen, and what did I understand! And my mother was dead. One day--oh, please, Nett, you can guess. He said something to me. I made him leave the house. Before I could make plans what to do, he came back mad with drink. I went for Bobby, to get out of the house, but he caught hold of me. I struck him in the face, and he threw me against the edge of the open door. It made the scar.
gpt
Why did you never write and tell me that, Jo? You know that I--
human
You had gone out of our lives down there. I didn't know where you were for a long time; and then--then it was all right about Bobby and me, except that Bobby didn't get the money that was his. But now--
gpt
He made that scar, and he--and you only sixteen--Oh, my God!
human
And he's my brother!
gpt
Do you see him up here ever?
human
I never saw him till a week ago. A moment, then he added,
gpt
The letter wasn't to be sent here in his own name, was it?
human
Yes, in his own name, Dorland W. Foyle. Didn't he go by that name when you saw him?
gpt
No, he was going by the name of Halbeck--Hiram Halbeck.
human
Hiram Halbeck! Hiram Halbeck, the thief--I read it all in the papers--the thief that you caught, and that got away. And you've left the Mounted Police because of it--oh, Nett!
gpt
I didn't know who he was till I arrested him, he said.
human
Then, afterward, I thought of his child, and let him get away; and for my poor old mother's sake. She never knew how bad he was, even as a boy. But I remember how he used to steal and drink the brandy from her bedside, when she had the fever. She never knew the worst of him. But I let him away in the night, Jo, and I resigned, and they thought that Halbeck had beaten me, had escaped. Of course I couldn't stay in the Force, having done that. But, by the heaven above us, if I had him here now I'd do the thing--do it, so help me God!
gpt
Why should you ruin your life for him? she said, with an outburst of indignation. All that was in her heart welled up in her eyes at the thought of what Foyle was.
human
You must not do it. You shall not do it. _He_ must pay for his wickedness, not you. It would be a sin. You and what becomes of you mean so much. Suddenly, with a flash of purpose, she added,
gpt
He will come for that letter, Nett. He would run any kind of risk to get a dollar. He will come here for that letter--perhaps to-day.
human
He's not likely to venture here, after what's happened.
gpt
You don't know him as well as I do, Nett. He is so vain he'd do it, just to show that he could. He'd probably come in the evening. Does any one know him here? So many people pass through Kowatin every day. Has any one seen him?
human
Only Billy Goatry, he answered, working his way to a solution of the dark problem.
gpt
Only Billy Goatry knows him. The fellow that led the singing--that was Goatry.
human
There he is now,
gpt
We've got to settle things with him, she said.
human
If Dorl comes, Nett--
gpt
If he comes, leave him to me, Jo. You will leave him to me?
human
Yes, she answered.
gpt
You'll do what's right--by Bobby?
human
And by Dorl, too,
gpt
It's Goatry, said Foyle.
human
You stay here. I'll tell him everything. He's all right; he's a true friend. He'll not interfere.
gpt
You keep watch on the post-office, Jo,
human
Hope I don't intrude, he said, stealing a half-leering look at the girl. As soon as he saw her face, however, he straightened himself up and took on different manners. He had not been so intoxicated as he had made out, and he seemed only
gpt
It's all right, Goatry, said Foyle.
human
This lady is one of my family from the East.
gpt
Goin' on by stage?