"
"I have come to stay," she said with assurance.
"Wait a bit!" said Burke Ranger.
His manner rather than his words checked her. She felt again that
cold dread pressing against her heart. She turned from the subject
as one seeking escape.
She ate a good breakfast almost in spite of herself. Ranger
insisted upon it, and since he was evidently hungry himself it
seemed churlish not to keep him company. He told her a little
about the country, while they ate, but he strenuously avoided all
things personal, and she felt compelled to follow his lead. He
imposed a certain restraint upon her, and even when he rose from
the table at length with the air of a man about to face the
inevitable, she did not feel it to be wholly removed.
She got up also and watched him fill his pipe with something of her
former embarrassment. She expected him to light it when he had
finished, but he did not. He put it in his pocket, and somewhat
abruptedly turned to her.
"Now!" he said.
She met his look with a brave face. She even smiled--a gallant,
little smile to which he made no response. "Well, now," she said,
"I want you to tell me the quickest way to get to Guy."
He faced her squarely. "I've got to tell you something about him
first," he said.
"Yes?" Her heart was beating very quickly, but she had herself well
in hand.
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