"Oh, Jordan!" gasped Molly.
"That's right," he insisted, with an ugly shrug. "I tell you, Molly, I've always been impressed with the idea mothers cared more for their children than fathers, but I'm over that now since knowing you."
"Oh, Jordan!" repeated Molly faintly once more.
Not heeding her appealing voice, he rushed on, "I'd be willing to strangle half the world for money to hire detectives to search for him. But as I've said before, I'd let Jinnie alone if I had him--and work for him with my two hands--if I had to dig graves."
Molly turned her startled eyes upon the excited man. She had never known the depths of his nature.
"You make me tired," he proceeded with sarcasm. "What in hell do you think Theodore could see in you when a girl like Jinnie cares for him?"
"Why, Jordan Morse!" stammered the woman. "How dare you talk to me like that?"
"Because it's true," replied Jordan hotly. "You're like a lot of women--if a man looks sidewise at you, you think he's bowled over with your charms. Good Heavens! It's sickening!"
"I didn't ask you here to talk like this," said Molly.
"What if you didn't?" snapped Jordan. "You can talk now if you want to! I'm going home in five minutes, and I want some money before I go, too."
"I'll give you some to-morrow. Now what're you going to do about Theodore?"
"Well, he won't marry Jinnie," replied Morse slowly.
"How can you help it?"
"That's what I'm going to figure out. If I can get her away from Grandoken's, she won't get back, I can tell you that. But that damn cobbler and Theo'll make such a devilish row----"
"You needn't be profane," chided Molly.
"A woman like you's enough to make any man swear.... Now listen to me. The very fact that Jinnie ran away from home shows me that Tom Singleton told her I put 'im in a mad house! Jinnie, of course, told Grandoken. I've got to get that cobbler--and--you've got to help me get Jinnie----"
"Haven't I done all I could?" gasped Molly. "I can't go down there and take her by the nape of the neck, can I?"
"No, but I will! Now let's go! I want to do some pretty tall thinking before morning. Once let those two people be married and I'm lost."
"So am I," muttered Molly, swaying at his vehement words.
They threaded their way back to the hill, and Morse left Molly at her gate. As she walked slowly up the road, she could see the light in Theodore's window, and his shadow thrown on the curtain.