"Uh-huh," Butch nodded. "Fell outa your bag when you side-stepped the
Old Man and beat it, last night. He didn't see it, and I sneaked the
bunch while he wasn't lookin'. G'wan--take it."
He thrust the money into her fingers that closed convulsively upon it.
For a moment she choked and gulped, on the verge of tears, so
overpowering was the sense of relief.
"O Butch--!"
"Ah, cut that out. It's your money, all right--ain't it?"
She began with trembling fingers to count the bills. Butch tilted his
head to one side and regarded her with undisguised disgust.
"Say, you must have a swell opinion of me, kid, to think I'd hold out on
you!"
She stared bewildered.
"There's twenty-two dollars here, Butch!"
Her hand moved out as if offering to return the money. With an angry
movement he slapped it back and turned away.
"That's right," he muttered sourly. "I slipped an extra ten in. I guess
I gotta right to, ain't I? You're my sister, and you'll need it before
you get through, all right."