“Shamed him?  I scared him out of it!  He owns a lot of property in this town that’s rented for unlawful purposes, and I told him I’d prosecute him; that, and a few other things.  He offered to buy me out at a good price, but he didn’t get very far with that.  It was a good figure, though,” she added reflectively.

His spirits rose at this proof of her loyalty and he hastened to manifest his appreciation.  His wife’s fears would be dispelled by this evidence of her aunt’s good will toward the family.

“I rather imagined that he’d be glad to quit if he saw an easy way out, and I guess you gave it to him.  Now about your stock, Aunt Sally.  I don’t want you to be brought into my troubles with Thatcher any further.  I appreciate your help so far, and I’m able now to pay for your shares.  I don’t doubt that Ed offered you a generous price to get a controlling interest.  I’ll write a check for any sum you name, and you’ll have my gratitude besides.”

He drew out his check-book and laid it on the table, with a feeling that money, which according to tradition is a talkative commodity, might now conclude the conversation.  Mrs. Owen saw the check-book—­looked at it over her glasses, apparently without emotion.

“I’m not going to sell those shares, Morton; not to you or anybody else.”

“But as a matter of maintaining my own dignity—­”

“Your own dignity is something I want to speak to you about, Morton.  I’ve been watching you ever since you married Hallie, and wondering just where you’d bump.  You and Edward Thatcher have been pretty thick and you’ve had a lot of fun out of politics.  This row you’ve got into with him was bound to come.  I know Edward better—­just a little better than I know you.  He’s not a beautiful character, but he’s not as bad as they make out.  But you’ve given him a hard rub the wrong way and he’s going to get even with you.  He’s mighty bitter—­bitterer than it’s healthy for one man to be against another.  If it hadn’t been for this newspaper fuss I shouldn’t ever have said a word to you about it; but I advise you to straighten things up with Edward.  You’d better do it for your own good—­for Hallie and the children.  You’ve insulted him and held him up to the whole state of Indiana as a fool.  You needn’t think he doesn’t know just where you gripped that convention tight, and just where you let him have it to play with.  He’s got more money than you have, and he’s going to spend it to give you some of your own medicine or worse, if he can.  He’s like a mule that lays for the nigger that put burrs under his collar.  You’re that particular nigger just now.  You’ve made a mistake, Morton.”

“But Aunt Sally—­I didn’t—­”