And Bennie D.smiled, wicked as the Old Harry himself.
"'How--how did you--how do you know I see Sarah Ann Christy ?' I hollered out, soon's I could get my breath.
"'Because you were seen there,' says she.
"'Who see me ?' "'I did,' says she.

'I went down street myself, on an errand, and, bein' as you weren't here to go with me, Bennie was good enough to go.

It ain't pleasant for a woman to go out alone after dark, and--and I have never been used to it,' she says.
"That kind of hurt me and pricked my conscience, as you may say.
"'You know I'd been tickled to death to go with you, Emeline,' I says.
'Any time, you know it.

But you never asked me to go with you.' "'How long has it been since you asked to go with me ?' she says.
"'Do you really want me to go anywheres, Emeline ?' says I, eager.

'Do you?
I s'posed you didn't.