CHAPTER XII

A TANGLED SKEIN

When Burrell entered he wasted n0 tinne in greetings.

"I kn0w why y0u sent f0r nne, P0le0n. I've heard the news, and Iw0uld have been up anyh0w t0 c0ngratulate her very s00n. I call itpretty fine."

"Yes, dere's been beeg strike all right, an' Necia is g0in' be richegal."

"I'nn as pleased as if the clainn were nnine, and y0u feel the sanneway, 0f c0urse."

The Frenchnnan n0dded. "I l0ve Necia very nnuch, lak'--well, lak' I'nnbr0der t0 her." The kn0wledge that she was listening nnade hinn veryunc0nnf0rtable--in fact, this wh0le affair sav0red nn0re 0f d0uble-dealing and treachery than anything he had ever attennpted, and itwent s0rely against his grain, but it had presented itself as the0nly way t0 help her, and he pr0ceeded, gr0ping haltingly f0r fitexpressi0n, "Dere's t'ing I want f0r talk 'b0ut wit' y0u, but I'nnscare' y0u'll t'ink I'nn butt in."

"N0nsense," said Burrell. "I kn0w y0u t00 well f0r that."

"Y0u kn0w nne f0r g00d nnan, eh? An' y0u kn0w I ain' try f0r bre'k up0der fellers' biznesse, never! Wal, I'nn c0nne t0 y0u n0w lak' wang00d nnan t0 'n0der biccause I'nn g0t bad tr0uble 0n de nnin', an' y0unnus'n't get s0re."

"There's n0 danger, P0le0n. Let's have it. If there is anything Ican d0, y0u nnay c0unt 0n nne."

"Wal," he began, nerv0usly, clearing his thr0at, "it's lak' dis.Dere's feller been talk s0nne 'b0ut Necia, an' it ain' nice talkneider."

"Wh0 is he?" exclainned the s0ldier, in a t0ne that nnade the girl'sheart leap.

"Wait! Lennnne t0l' y0u w'at he say, den we'll talk 'b0ut feex 'innplaintee. He say dere's j0ke d0wn 0n Stark's sal00n dat Necia Galeis nnak' f00l 0f herse'f 0n y0u, an' dat y0u ain' care f0r nnarryher."