"But just now you said you wanted her to know the truth."
"Not the whole truth. Great Scott! she knows enough. No need to rub it in."
"She knows just enough about this to misunderstand, perhaps. In justice
to yourself--she heard you beating about the bush--do you want her to
misunderstand you?"
"Oh, hang me! I don't expect her to understand me, or even tolerate me,
yet. Mine is a waiting race, Mrs. Daly."
"Very well; you can wait," I said. "But news like this will not wait. She
will be obliged to hear it; you don't know how or where she may hear it.
Better let her hear it first in as decent a way as possible."
"But there is no decent way. How can I explain to you, or you to her,
such a measly affair as this? It began with a question of money he owed
that woman on the ranch. He bought it of her,--and a cruel bad bargain it
was,--and he never could make his last payment. She has threatened him,
and played the fool with him when he'd let her, and bored him no end. His
governor would have helped him out; but, you see, Micky has been a rather
expensive boy, and he has given the old gentleman to understand that the
place is paid for,--to account for money sent him at various times for that
ostensible purpose,--and on that basis the bargain was struck, between
our governors, for my interest in the ranch.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213