" The steel-blue eyes met hers, steadily. Dick was yielding
to a desire to hurt himself as well as her, to defy her judgment if she
had no better sense than to condemn him. "The idiot is jealous."
"Jealous--why?" The angry color beat its way to the surface above her
cheek bones. Her disdain was regal.
"About Juanita."
"What about Juanita?"
"The usual thing, Miss Valdes. He was afraid she had the bad taste to
prefer another man to himself."
Davis broke in. "Now, don't you be a goat, Dick. Miss Valdes, he----"
"If you please, Mr. Davis. I'm quite sure Mr. Gordon is able to defend
himself," she replied scornfully.
"Didn't know I _was_ defending myself. What's the charge against me?"
asked the young miner with a touch of quiet insolence.
"There isn't any--if you don't see what it is. And you're quite right,
Mr. Gordon. Your difficulties with Pablo are none of my business. You'll
have to settle them yourselves--with Juanita's help. May I ask whether
you received the registered letter I sent you, Mr. Gordon?"
Dick was angry. Her cool contempt told him that he had been condemned.
He knew that he was acting like an irresponsible schoolboy, but he would
not justify himself. She might think what she liked.
"Found it waiting for me this morning, Miss Valdes."
"It was very fair and generous of you to send me the letter, I recognize
that fully.
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