Five tense minutes passed in silence. Then: "Sure we couldn't get out of the window, dearie?" asked Bobbie.
"They're locked, too," answered the girl, low-toned.
"I'd bust 'em out," volunteered the boy, with sudden enthusiasm.
"But there's a deep gorge in front of every one, honey," replied Jinnie sadly.
Yet Bobbie's words--"bust 'em out"--took hold of her grippingly, and the thought of leaving that unbearable place was like a tonic to the frantic girl. She crossed the room rapidly and examined the window panes. But even if she could break them, as Bobbie suggested, the water below would receive their bodies, and death would follow. If it were a street, she might manage. Yet the sight of the flowing water, the dark depths between the ragged rocks, did not send Bobbie's words, "bust 'em out," from her mind. If they fell together, the boy would never be tortured any more. To-morrow Jordan Morse would be in the courtroom all day. To-morrow----God, dear God! She seemed to hear Lafe's monotone, "There's always to-morrow, Jinnie."
She was called upon to think, to act alone in a tragic way. Of course she would be killed if she jumped into the deep gorge with the child and Happy Pete. She tried to think, to plan, but after the manner of all believing sufferers, could only pray.
Bobbie need fear no evil! "Angels have been given charge over him, and Bobbie shall not want," Jinnie whispered, her mind spinning around like a child's top. A sudden faith boomed at the portals of her soul. What was the use of asking help for Bobbie if she didn't have faith in an answer?
To-day would bring forth a plan for to-morrow. To-morrow Bobbie would be saved from Jordan Morse. To-morrow would end his terror in the gorge house. To-morrow--she would be eighteen years old!
"Bobbie," she entreated, going to the child swiftly, "Bobbie, do you remember any prayers Lafe taught you?"
The child bobbed his head.
"Sure," he concurred. "'Now I lay me' and 'Our Father which art in Heaven.'... I know them, Jinnie."
"Then sit upon the divan again and say them over and over, and pray for Lafe, and that you'll get out of here and be happy. You mustn't tell Mr. Morse if he comes, but I'm going to try to get you out of the window."
As she stood in the gathering gloom and peered into the water below, Jinnie could hear the child lisping his small petitions.
At that moment a new faith came for herself. Lafe's angels would save her, too, from Jordan Morse's revenge.
At ten-thirty the next morning Morse came. With trepidation Jinnie heard him open the door. He was extremely nervous and stayed only a few moments.