The legs left the chain and dangled in
the air. Sal called "Murder!"
Her cry was answered. It was Joe, who had been over at Maloney's making
his fortune. He came to the rescue. He dropped out of the chimney and
shook himself. Sal stared at him. He was calm and covered from head to
foot with soot and dirt. He looked round and said, "Thought yuz could
keep me out, did'n'y'?" Sal could only look at him. "I saw yuz all run
in," he was saying, when Sal thought of Mother, and sprang to her. Sal
shook her, and slapped her, and threw water on her till she sat up and
stared about. Then Joe stared.
Dad came in for dinner--which, of course, was n't ready. Mother began to
cry, and asked him what he meant by keeping a madman on the place, and
told him she KNEW he wanted to have them all murdered. Dad did n't
understand. Sal explained. Then he went out and told the man to "Clear!"
The man simply said, "No."
"Go on, now!" Dad said, pointing to the rails. The man smiled at the
wood-heap as he worked. Dad waited. "Ain't y' going?" he repeated.
"Leave me alone when I'm chopping wood for the missus," the man answered;
then smiled and muttered to himself.
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