She watched him in growing amazement. What could be the mystery back of this new twist of his elusive mind?
He laid his hand on the black bag again, smiled, and turned and faced her with expanding good humor.
“Great scheme, this marryin', Kid! And you believe in it exactly as I do, don't you?”
“That it binds and holds both our lives as only Almighty God can bind and hold?”
“Great scheme!” he repeated. “I get a pretty girl to work for me for nothing for the balance of my life.” He paused and lifted the slender forefinger of his right hand. “And you pledged your pious soul--I memorized the words, every one of them: `I, Mary, take thee, James, to my wedded husband--TO HAVE AND TO HOLD from this day forward, FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish AND OBEY, TIL DEATH DO US PART, ACCORDING TO GOD'S HOLY ORDINANCE; AND THEREUNTO I GIVE THEE MY TROTH----'”
He paused, lifted his head and smiled grimly: “That's some promise, believe me, Kiddo! `AND OBEY'--you meant it all, didn't you?”
She would have hedged lightly over that ugly old word which still survived in the ceremony Craddock had used, but for the sinister suggestion in his voice back of the playful banter. He had asked it half in jest, half in earnest. She had caught by the subtle sixth sense the tragic idea in that one word that he was going to hold her to it. The thought was too absurd!
“OBEY--you meant it, didn't you?” he repeated grimly.
A smile played about the corners of her mouth as she answered dreamily:
“That's why I set my head on you from the first--you're good and sweet--you're the real thing.”
Again she caught the sinister suggestion in his tone and threw him a startled look.
“What has come over you today, Jim?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing, Kiddo--just been thinking a little about business. Got to go to work, you know.” He returned to the table and touched the bag lightly.
“Watch out now for this bag while I put up the car--and don't forget that curiosity killed the cat.”
“Didn't I tell you that curiosity killed a cat?” He pointed to the skin on the wall. “That's what stretched that wild-cat's hide up there! She got too near the old musket!”
“Anyhow, I'm not afraid of her end--what's in it?”