Lina was too much bewildered by the sudden change of tack to do more than stammer inarticulately. I am afraid that in her terror she would have been capable of denying it, if she had thought that would help her. Her captor reflected more deeply, scratched his head, and finally, assuming a diplomatic attitude by thrusting his hands in his pocket, remarked:--
"I s'poseye 'd like it dummed well ef I was to let yer go and say nothin ' more about it. I reelly don't s'pose I 'd orter do it; but it riles me to see Amy comin ' home cryin ' every day, and I ' ll tell ye what I ' ll do. Ef you ' ll ask her to yer fandango to- morrer , and be friends with her arterward so she ' ll come home happy and cheerful like, I ' ll let ye go, and if ye don't, I ' ll put ye in jug overnight, sure's taxes. Say
