And the petty-larceny incident of my knocking down two or three
men and being under arrest as much as thirty minutes looms up before
you as the utter depths of disgrace. Disgrace to you! It's all
you--you! How do you suppose it strikes me to have my wife take sides
against me on snap judgment like that? It shows a heap of faith and
trust and loyalty, doesn't it? Oh, it makes me real proud and glad of
my mate. It does. By thunder, if Granville had ever treated me as it
tried to treat you one time, according to your own account, I'd wipe my
feet on them at every opportunity."
"If you'd explain," Hazel began hesitatingly. She was thoroughly
startled at the smoldering wrath that flared out in this speech of his.
She bitterly resented being talked to in that fashion. It was unjust.
Particularly that last fling. And she was not taking sides. She
refused to admit that--even though she had a disturbing consciousness
that her attitude could scarcely be construed otherwise.
"I'll explain nothing," Bill flashed stormily. "Not at this stage of
the game. I'm through explaining. I'm going to act. I refuse to be
raked over the coals like a naughty child, and then asked to tell why I
did it.
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