"
"You and Hildreth and Darrie would best take the three o'clock train
back to New York then."
"I haven't the least intention of doing that."
"What are you going to do?"
"--just let them come."
"You won't--fight?"
"As long as I'm alive."
"You just said you were afraid."
"Where a principle is considered, one can be afraid and still stick by
one's guns."
"You're a real man, John Gregory, as well as a real poet, and I'm going
to help you ... if it was the townspeople alone I would hesitate
advising you ... but it's dirty, hired outsiders who are back of this
feeling. Here!" and she stepped over to the mantel and brought a
six-shooter to me and laid it in my hand, "can you shoot?"
"A little, but not very well."
"It's loaded already ... here is a pocketful of extra bullets."
She filled my coat pocket till it sagged heavily. I slipped the gun in
my hip pocket.
"You're really going to stand them off if they come?"
"As long as no one tries to break into my house I will lie quiet ... the
minute someone tries to break in, I'll shoot, I'll shoot to kill, and
I'll kill as many as I can before they take me. I'll admit I'm
frightened, but I have principles of freedom and radical right, and I'll
die for them if necessary."
Mrs. Rond put her hand on my shoulder like a man.
"You have the makings of a fine fanatic in you .
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