|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 52
Tom Cutter, having conferred with Engle and Struve, left San Juan in
the early afternoon, convoying his prisoners to the greater security of
the county jail. It seemed the wisest step, the one which Norton would
have taken. Besides, Galloway insisted upon it and upon being allowed
to send a message to his lawyer.
"I am willing to stand trial," said Galloway indifferently. "I'll
arrange for bail to-morrow and be back to-morrow night."
The question which Tom Cutter, Struve, and Engle all asked of
themselves and of each other, "Did Moraga get his chance to talk with
Galloway?" went unanswered. There was nothing to do but wait upon the
future to know that, unless Moraga, now on his way back to Sheriff
Roberts, could be made to talk. And Moraga was not given to garrulity.
Meantime Patten brought hourly reports of Norton. He was still in
danger, to be sure; but he was doing as well as could be expected. No
one must go into the room except Mrs. Engle as nurse. Norton was fully
conscious, but forbidden to talk; he recognized those about him, his
eyes were clear, his temperature satisfactory, his strength no longer
waning. He had partaken of a bit of nourishment and to-morrow, if
there were no unlooked-for complications, would be able to speak with
John Engle for whom he had asked.
During the days which followed, days in which Rod Norton lay quiet in a
darkened room, Virginia Page was conscious of having awakened some form
of interest in Caleb Patten. His eyes followed her when she came and
went, and, when she surprised them, were withdrawn swiftly, but not
before she had seen in them a speculative thoughtfulness. While she
noted this she gave it little thought, so occupied was her mind with
other matters. She had postponed, as long as she could, a talk with
Julius Struve, her spirit galled that she must in the end go to him
"like a beggar," as she expressed it to herself. But one day, her head
erect, she followed the hotel keeper into his office. In the hallway
she encountered Patten.
"May I have a word with you?" Patten asked.
But Virginia had steeled herself to the interview with Struve and would
no longer set it aside, even for a moment.
"If you care to wait on the veranda," she told Patten, "I'll be out in
a minute. I want to see Mr. Struve now."
Patten stood aside and watched her pass, the shrewdly questioning look
in his eyes. When she disappeared in the office he remained where she
had left him, listening. When she began to speak with Struve, her
voice rapid and hinting at nervousness, he came a quiet step nearer the
door she had closed after her.
"I am ashamed of myself, Mr. Struve," said Virginia, coming straight to
the point. "I owe you already for a month's board and room rent for
myself and Elmer. I . . ."
"That's perfectly all right, Miss Virginia," said Struve hurriedly. "I
know the sort of job you've got on your hands making collections. If
you can wait I am willing to do so. Glad to do so, in fact."
Patten, fingering his little mustache, then letting his thick fingers
drop to the diamond in his tie, smiled with satisfaction. Smiling, he
tiptoed down the hall and went out upon the veranda where he smoked his
cigar serenely. When Virginia came out to him her face was flaming.
Had he not beard Struve's words, he would have thought that his answer
to her apology had been an angry demand for immediate payment. Patten
failed to understand how the girl's fine, independent nature writhed in
a situation all but intolerable. That she appreciated gratefully
Struve's quick kindness did not minimize her own mortification.
Patten watched her seat herself; then he launched himself into his
subject. Virginia listened at first with faint interest, then with
quickened wonder. For the life of her she could not tell if the little
man were seeking to flatter or insult her.
"I have leased an old, deserted ranch-house just on the edge of town,"
he told her. "Got it for a song, too. Some first-rate land goes with
it; I'll probably buy the whole thing before long. There's plenty of
good water. Now, what am I up to, eh? Just the same thing all the
time, if you want to know. And that means making money."
Leaning forward he knocked the ash from his cigar and brought himself
confidentially nearer.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|