Page:Raymond Spears--Diamond Tolls.djvu/167

 dreaded in his heart a discovery of what he had done. Nevertheless, in his worst fears he declared to himself:

"I'd do hit all oveh ag'in. Hit ain't no worse'n what I be'n through, hongry and sleepin' out in sleet an' snow, like a dog."

And yet he wished that he could have thought of some easier way of getting the money.

"If I'd on'y jes robbed 'im, an' left him to squawk what I'd done—I mout of gone some'rs. I could of gone down into Chaffelli. They say you cayn't find a steamboat that gets lost down in theh."

He longed for companionship now; he thought that if he could find someone to keep him company, he would forget his spectre; at least, he would not be afraid of it, and he could sleep in the dark.

"Old Frest 'lowed he could get that gal," he remembered. "Sho! I'm rich—I got lots of money. Likely she'd friendly with me. She's a great looker, they say. I'd be kind an' gentle—an' if she's got them diamonds—Lawse! What a time we'd get to have, sportin' around!"

He cut loose his boat and started up stream in the midnight, hurrying to find Delia, whom he understood was at Yankee Bar, or around there somewhere, with