She cut Skip Magruder still deader when he
tried to ride home with her.
He came to call and showed an inclination to settle down as a member
of Kedzie's intimate circle. He had speedily recovered from his
first awe at the sight of her splendor. Finding himself necessary
to her, he grew odiously presumptuous. She had not dared to rebuke
him. Now she thought she would have to buy him off. Skip had had his
witness fees and his expenses, and nothing else for his pains. Then
Beattie warned Kedzie that it would look bad to pay Skip any money;
it might cast suspicion on his testimony. Kedzie would not have done
that for worlds. Besides, when she learned what Mr. Beattie's fee
was to be, she felt too poor to pay anybody anything.
The only thing she could do, therefore, was to remind Skip of the
beautiful old song, "Lovers once, but strangers now."
"Besides, Skippie dear, I'm engaged."
"Already?"
"Yes."
"You woiked that excuse on me when you tried to explain why you
toined me down when I wrote you the letter at the stage door."
"Yes, I did."
"Say, Anitar, you'd oughter git some new material. Your act is
growin' familiar."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Oh no! You wasn't never in vawdvul, was you, oh, no! not a tall!"
Kedzie played her pout on him, but Skip glared at her, shook his
head, kicked himself with his game leg, and said, "I gotta give
you credit, Anitar, you're the real thing as a user."
"A what?" said Kedzie.
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