"If not," he said, "she goes back with me."
Saltash's eyes suddenly flashed to his, but he did not alter his
position. "Sure of that?" he asked casually.
"Sure!" said Jake.
"And if I refuse to part with her? If she refuses to go?"
"Either way," said Jake immovably.
"And why?" Saltash straightened suddenly. "Tell me why! What in hell has
it got to do with you?"
"This," said Jake. "Just the fact that she's a girl needing protection
and that I--can give it."
"Are you so sure of that?" gibed Saltash. "I think you forget, don't you,
that I was her first protector? No one--not even Bunny--could have got
near her without my consent."
"She was your find right enough," Jake admitted. "I always knew
that--knew from the first you'd faked up a lie about her. But I hoped--I
even believed--that you were doing it for her sake--not your own."
"Well?" flung Saltash. "And if I was?"
"And if you were," said Jake, "it was a thing worth doing--worth sticking
to. Bunny is a respectable citizen. He'd have married her--made her
happy."
Saltash's mouth twisted. "Bunny had his chance--missed it," he said.
"He'll know better next time. I'm not troubling about Bunny. He didn't
deserve to win.
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