DENTON CROUCH 21

when denton left the sherriffs office he headed back to the boarding house. at the door he was met by jody. " that poor girl is a mess. . she has been beaten so much she wont hardly talk. everything i try to do to help her she just recoils. she has retreated into a corner in her room. doc came by a while ago. he didnt get far with her either. i took her a plate of food but she just stares at it." jody was seriously worried. " i dont know if i can do any more than you all have. but ill try. she has to eat something. she is nothing but skin and bone as it is." denton got up and started to the girls room telling jody to wait. when he opened the door the girl was cowering in a corner, sitting on the floor with her legs doubled up against her chest. the look of a cornered wild animal on her face as she looked right ot left for a route of escape. denton didnt approach to close" girl you need to eat this food. you will feel better." denton quietly said. the girl just shook her head "why its good ." dentonasked. " i cant pay for it, alvie will beat me again because he would have to pay for it. its happened before."the gir l whispered. " you dont got to worry about alvie any more . if my bullit dont kill him the judgge will send him to the prison. you wont need to even think of him as anything but a bad memeory. he will never bother you again."denton told her. what ever happens here ime paying for. you dont worry about anything until we get this all settled. now you eat this plate of food and every one jody brings you. anything done here for you will be my reesponsability. you dont worry about anything" denton pushed the plate over to her. she stared at it and denton knew she was hungry. he stood up and said" now eat ill be back soon." a hour later jody went to check on pearlthe plate was empty and she was curled up on the floor asleep. jody took a hen skin blanket from the bed and spread over." the things people do to people." jody whispered as she closed the door.