"Don't you call no names," replied Perkins. "It ain't no use." His voice
was low, trembling, but gravely earnest. "Say, I might have killed you
to-night." His breath was still coming in quick short gasps.
"You tried your best, you dog!" said Cameron.
"Don't you call no names," panted Perkins again. "I might--a--killed
yeh. I'm mighty--glad--I didn't." He spoke like a man who had had a
great deliverance. "But don't yeh," here his teeth snapped like a dog's,
"don't yeh ever go foolin' with that girl again. Don't yeh--ever--do
it. I seen yeh huggin' her in there and I tell yeh--I tell yeh--," his
breath began to come in sobs, "I won't stand it--I'll kill yeh, sure as
God's in heaven."
"Are you mad?" said Cameron, scanning narrowly the white distorted face.
"Mad? Yes, I guess so--I dunno--but don't yeh do it, that's all. She's
mine! Mine! D'yeh hear?"
He stepped forward and thrust his snarling face into Cameron's.
"No, I ain't goin' to touch yeh," as Cameron stepped back into a posture
of defense, "not to-night. Some day, perhaps." Here again his teeth came
together with a snap. "But I'm not going to have you or any other
man cutting in on me with that girl. D'yeh hear me?" and he lifted a
trembling forefinger and thrust it almost into Cameron's face.
Cameron stood regarding him in silent and contemptuous amazement.
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