Suddenly Angus began to wonder what had spurred French's conscience.
"Why does he want to buy?"
"Partly, he says, to take a white elephant off my hands; and partly for Blake."
"For Blake?" Angus exclaimed in amazement.
"Blake wants a ranch of his own. You don't believe it?"
"Not a word of it."
"Perhaps Uncle Godfrey is merely inventing that reason. He may have no other than a desire to take the property off my hands, if he thinks I can't work it profitably."
"It seems funny," Angus said, thoughtfully. "If he wants to buy for Blake he may offer more. I don't think, after all, I'd be in a hurry to decide."
"I'll take that advice, and wait. But here we are at the house. Put Chief in the stable. You'll stay for supper, of course."
Angus stayed. But all evening he was preoccupied. Again and again he went over the puzzle. Why did Godfrey French want to buy that dry ranch? Why had he given a reason which was not a reason? Why had he lied about Blake? He could find no satisfactory answers to these questions.