"I ain't going to hurt you--you needn't be afraid of me, I got something important to say--send him off, I tell you; there ain't no time to lose!" The girl stamped her foot impatiently.
Betty made a sign to Hannibal and he passed slowly back along the path.
He went unwillingly, and he kept his head turned that he might see what was done, even if he were not to hear what was said.
"That will do, Hannibal--wait there--don't go any farther!" Betty called after him when he had reached a point sufficiently distant to be out of hearing of a conversation carried on in an ordinary tone.

"Now, what is it?
Speak quickly if you have anything to tell me!" "I got a heap to say," answered the girl with a scowl.

Her manner was still fierce and repellent, and she gave Betty a certain jealous regard out of her black eyes which the latter was at a loss to explain.
"Where's Mr.Tom ?" she demanded.
"Tom?
Why, about the place, I suppose--in his office, perhaps." So it had to do with Tom....

Betty felt sudden disgust with the situation.
"No, he ain't about the place, either! He done struck out for Memphis two hours after sun-up, and what's more, he ain't coming back here to-night--" There was a moment of silence.

The girl looked about apprehensively.