But I can use straight English, and that's good
enough for me. I sure want you mighty bad, Miss Mason. You're
in my mind 'most all the time, now. And what I want to know
is--well, do you want me? That's all."
"I--I wish you hadn't asked," she said softly.
"Mebbe it's best you should know a few things before you give me
an answer," he went on, ignoring the fact that the answer had
already been given. "I never went after a woman before in my
life, all reports to the contrary not withstanding. The stuff
you read about me in the papers and books, about me being a
lady-killer, is all wrong. There's not an iota of truth in it. I
guess I've done more than my share of card-playing and
whiskey-drinking, but women I've let alone. There was a woman
that killed herself, but I didn't know she wanted me that bad or
else I'd have married her--not for love, but to keep her from
killing herself. She was the best of the boiling, but I never
gave her any encouragement. I'm telling you all this because
you've read about it, and I want you to get it straight from me.
"Lady-killer! " he snorted. "Why, Miss Mason, I don't mind
telling you that I've sure been scairt of women all my life.
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