Peterkin saw that he was beaten and left the house, vowing vengeance
against both Harold and Jerry, if he should ever have it in his power to
harm them.
When he was gone, Frank, who had recovered his composure during the
ludicrous scene, said to those present:
'I would not explain to that brute, but it is not my intention to
trouble the town. I have no more idea who this woman is than you have,
and I'll swear that Peterkin's vile insinuations with regard to her are
false. My brother says he never saw her in his life, and he speaks the
truth. She may have been on Peterkin's boat, but I doubt it. She has
every appearance of a foreigner, and her child'--here Frank's tongue
felt a little thick, but he cleared his throat and went on--'her child
speaks a foreign language--German, they tell me. This poor woman died on
my--or rather my brother's premises. I have consulted with him, and he
thinks as I do, that she should be cared for at our expense. He says,
further, that there is room on the Tracy lot; she is to be buried there.
I shall attend to it at once, and the funeral will take place to-morrow
morning at ten o'clock from this house. What disposition will be made of
the child I have not yet decided, but she will _not_ go to the
poor-house.
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