away with murder. Do you wonder I want to get out of here, ma, now do you?"
Minnie laughed again because she enjoyed tantalizing Pete. It was the only way she knew of getting back at him. She looked into his surly face and saw the red flush mount to his bulging forehead as he clamped his teeth and cursed under his breath. At last he reached over and pushed his plate from him.
"Oh, Pete!" cried his mother tremulously, "you ain't through yet. Please don't let Minnie spoil your dinner for you. Please don't let her, Pete. I got rice puddin' for dessert with raisins in it. I made it special for you, Pete. You know she's only teasin'. Ain't you, Minnie? Tell Pete you're only teasin', Minnie dear. Tell him please . . . for my sake. . . ."
Pete and Minnie quarreled through the meal. Then Pete rose and cried out with sudden ferocity, "You go to hell every one of you. I'm through!"
"Oh, God, Pete!" and the tears gushed to his mother's eyes. "Minnie! Look what you done to your brother. You're a bad girl, that's what you are."
She swayed as she saw Pete make for the door, and reached out her arms as he went out.
"Pete!" A cry was torn from Mrs. Flynn, and its echo followed Pete down the two flights of stairs and into the lower hallway. It was like the cry of an animal in pain. But Pete was unmoved.
Mrs. Flynn lay against her husband's breast, with convulsive, rasping sobs that only annoyed Minnie.
"Cheer up, ma," Minnie said. "I'll be out of here myself before long. You know what I told you. I'm goin' to settle that tonight."
