* * * * * * *
Old Hon threw her arms around him and kissed him.
"John," said Uncle Billy, "I've got three hundred dollars in a old
yarn sock under one of them hearthstones and its yourn. Ole Hon
says so too."
Hale choked.
"I want ye to go to June. Dave'll worry her down and git her if
you don't go, and if he don't worry her down, he'll come back an'
try to kill ye. I've always thought one of ye would have to die
fer that gal, an' I want it to be Dave. You two have got to fight
it out some day, and you mought as well meet him out thar as here.
You didn't give that little gal a fair chance, John, an' I want
you to go to June."
"No, I can't take your money, Uncle Billy--God bless you and old
Hon--I'm going--I don't know where--and I'm going now."
XXXIII
Clouds were gathering as Hale rode up the river after telling old
Hon and Uncle Billy good-by. He had meant not to go to the cabin
in Lonesome Cove, but when he reached the forks of the road, he
stopped his horse and sat in indecision with his hands folded on
the pommel of his saddle and his eyes on the smokeless chimney.
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