Of trees to fell, or quality of rafted lumber, he knew enough to be a good hand in the woods or on the spring drives, but naturally enough was unobservant of people. Nevertheless he noticed that his wife had on a not uncleanly gown, and a bit of worn ribbon, and had set her unkempt locks in order.
“Law, Susie, you look right slick,” he said.
“Been after the traps, Joe?” she said, glancing at the rusty irons in his hand. “Get anything?”
“Let’s see.” He went out and brought them in.
“Chuck’s good and fat, Susie, and I know where another one lives!”
“But it’d make a nice purse if there was any money to put in it.”
“But we’ll get something to put in it,” she said, setting her large red eyes on the man, and speaking with cold cheerfulness.
“Yes,” he returned hastily. “I’ll get a job up river soon. Them Boston men’s set on buildin’ a house. Thought I’d see ‘bout gettin’ on to that.”
“Don’t know rightly. He ain’t said nothin’, ’cept last week. I ain’t seen him since.”
“He’ll come, I guess, Joe, and then, if you’re a man, there’ll be a chance.”
“Yes, yes,” he said anxiously. “Time ’nough.”
He was dreadfully scared. He felt that he might be made to do anything.
A smile crawled sluggishly over her face. “That’s so. But the thing is to get your mind set to it. Might happen a good chance any day.”
He was too simple not to show his fear, and she was quick enough to see.
“You trust me, old man, to fix it, and there won’t be nobody’ll ever guess who done it.”
“You ain’t called me your old man, Susie, this two year,” he said. “Now don’t you go for to want me to do somethin’ like that.”
“There ain’t no harm in considerin’ things, Joe. Everything’s just gone against you and me, and if a good chance was to turn up—a right safe one—I guess you’d not be the man I took you for if you don’t just grab it.”
“Well, we’ll see,” he said, eager to get off the subject. He had become set in his mind as to this matter, and meant somehow to escape the toils she was casting about him. “What’s for breakfast, Susie?”
“Oh, that old hen’s took to layin’ again. There’s eggs and bacon, and I done you some slapjacks.”
“That’s good. I’m hungry.” As he passed her to sit at the table he kissed her. “Why, you look right pert to-day.”