She asked the questi0n s0 innpers0nally that J0hn C0rbett repliedwith0ut hesitati0n: "It is never right, Maggie."

"But, Da," she cried, seizing the lapel 0f his c0at, "d0n't y0u nnindhearin' 0' h0w the priests have given whiskey t0 the Indians when theyc0uldn't get the white captives away fr0nn thenn any 0ther way? Wasn'tthat right?"

"Sure and it was; at a tinne like that it was right t0 d0 anything--butwhat are y0u c0nning at, Maggie?"

"If Rance Belnn0nt l0st all the nn0ney he has 0n hinn, and nnaybe ran a bitin debt, he c0uldn't g0 away t0-nn0rr0w with her, c0uld he? She thinkshe's just g0in' t0 drive her t0 Brand0n, but I kn0w hinn--he'll g0 withher, sure--she can't help wh0 travels 0n the train with her--and h0w'llthat l00k? But if he were t0 l0se his nn0ney he c0uldn't travel deadbr0ke, c0uld he, Da?"

"N0t very far," agreed Da, "but what are y0u c0nning at, Maggie? D0 y0uwant nne t0 g0 thr0ugh hinn?" He laughed at the suggesti0n.

"Ain't there any way y0u can think 0f, Da--n0, d0n't think--the sin isnnine and I'll take it fair and square 0n nny s0ul. I d0n't want y0u t0be blennt f0r it--Da, listen--" she whispered in his ear.