Haig and Bill Craven presently compared notes in the matter of
"busted" legs. Bill's had mended much sooner than Haig's, which was
quite easily understood, considering the great difference in their
circumstances. Curly had "nigh killed" the sorrels, getting the doctor
for Craven, but they were all right now. "Fat and sassy," Curly
added.
"I'll take some of that out of them, to-morrow," said Haig. "I'll want
the sleigh, Farrish. Please look after it in the morning."
Then, seeing their impatience, he told them of Sunnysides' final
escape, and of all the events that followed--as much as was good for
them to know.
"But where's Pete?" asked Craven.
"He went to Huntington's with Miss Gaylord. He'll be along soon."
"Well, jest wait till we git our hands on that damned Indian!" cried
Bill. "Eh, men?"
It was evident that there would be a considerable disturbance in the
barn on Pete's arrival.
A few minutes later Haig had his surprise. On entering the cottage he
first encountered Slim Jim in the outer room. Perhaps Jim's face
turned a trifle yellower, perhaps his thin legs trembled a little
under the sky-blue trousers; but that was about all, except the light
that flickered an instant in his eyes.
"Glad you back!" he said simply. "Want supper?"
"Want supper! Why, you scrawny, evil-eyed heathen! Want supper! I want
everything you've got to eat, and everything you haven't got, and
don't you tell me there's 'vellee lil' either, or I'll break every
bone in your body. And be quick about it too!"
Jim hurried into the kitchen with so much of a departure from his
oriental poise that the first pan he picked up fell to the floor with
a clatter. That was the most eloquent testimonial he could have given,
unless it was the supper that was ready for Haig in an hour--and no
"velle lil" supper at that--to his participation in the general
rejoicing.
Haig, meanwhile, opened the inner door, stepped into the library-bedroom,
and halted dead still on the threshold. At his entrance, a tall, thin
young man, with a very pale face, rose like an automaton and stared at
him. It was a question which of the two was the more amazed.
"Thursby!" cried Haig, recovering the more quickly.
"Haig!"
"Where did you come from?"
"From the other side of the world. And you?"
"From the very bowels of the earth, man!"
They walked slowly toward each other until they met, and clasped
hands.
"You found him?" asked Haig, searching the other's face.
"In Singapore."
"And then?"
"He's dead."
"And she?"
"I've sent her back to her people in Devonshire."
Haig gripped hard the hand that was still clasped in his own, and
there was a moment of silence.
"Well," said Haig, "we'll have a nip of whisky, and then--You've come
back to take your ranch, of course."
"I _came_ back for that, but I can't figure out that it's mine now."
"How's that?" asked Haig, pouring out the drinks.
"I left three hundred head of cattle, and now I learn there are
thirteen hundred head, almost."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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