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Show 250 THE MORMON LION "You're the bully boy, Dave- always got your popgun ready and always on h~nd to hdp Beauty m distress. You might have wruted a btt, though, ttl! I did shuck her off- you, a guest m my house. Yes, it's funny! " " For you I yes, for you! you cold-hearted, cruel monster I " cried Cora. " You have played wtth me as a cat with a mouse I When I was sealed to you I was an innocent young girl. ... You would have cast me aside y~ars ago, like the ot.hers, had I not gratified your pnde. You rated me wtth your blooded stock. To possess the most accomplished, most charming wife in Zion was worth my keep to you! ... I was an innocent gtrl. I loved you wtth my whole heart · I worshipped you. I would always have loved ybu had you gtven me a tithe of your true love. But you-you do not know what true love is I " "And Dave does, hey? " he inquired as Cora stopped, breathless, her eyes flash ing and bosom heaving with the violence of her passwn. "What is the use of this? " I said. "We can do one of two things-- Etther go out with our pistols and settle the matter after the fashion of the Southern gentlemen, or go to the Prophet for counsel, like Saints." He bent over, thoughtfully stroking his grizzled beard. I waited with my hand still in my boso!". Cora stood in an agony of suspense, her plump, whtte fingers clasped convulsively on her thumbs. When, after a full half minute, her husband looked up at me, it was with an oblique, crafty glance. "We are brothers in the Kmgdom," he said. "I'm not hankering to shed the blood of a brother." "Thank God! You'll go to Brigham!" cried Cora. He ignored the interruption. " I figure you've done pretty well in your practice, Dave-well enough to keep her in finery." "Oh, Brother Chilcott I '' she half screamed. "How can we ever thank you I " THE MORMON LION 251 "Shut up," he ordered," I'm talking to him. How about it, Dave I You've been raking in the dimes mighty spry, I take it. The Lord has prospered you." "I have enough to care forfour wives, if necessary," I said. "For four? " he said, and he smiled with grim satisfaction. " That's good. Just now, though, we're talking about one woman. Let's get down to business. Would you have enough to satisfy you if you didn't get the Sisters Senby and the eleven thousand that goes with them ? " I nodded. I perceived his drift, but I knew that Mrs. Senby would soon escape beyond all earthly troubles and that Ann Jane and Helga were almost as safe from him. He never would take them back without a large property inducement, and I felt certain that Brigham would not relinquish another dollar of the Senby estate. Again Chilcott paused and stroked his beard. "Well?" I asked. "Well," he replied, "suppose we swap? I let her go, and you stand aside for me to take the widows and what goes with them." " Will Brigham permit it ? " I asked. Chilcott affected to consider the question. "Well, I don't just know. I figure I could get him to change his counsel about the Sisters Senby. He'd like to see me take back the two I turned off. But that's the worst of it. He counselled me not to turn off any more wives without I had some good cause." " Oh I " gasped Cora in bitter disappointment. He faced about to her and said in a mild tone : " You see how it is, Cora. He refused to do what you asked ; and after what he counselled, he's bound to refuse me too, unless I can rake up some good excuse.'' " If that's all! " she exclaimed, " tell him I-that !-Jove another!" |
