“That’s no lie,” was Sandy’s comment.
“It’s plain ’s day,” Mrs. Hallard went on. “You say he’s got a’ plenty cash. I know he could light out from here an’ go where he could live like a lord. He’s got that much a’ plenty. But ’stid o’ that he comes back here to this God-forsaken place; an’ what for? Why to help me. He must a’ tracked over half the territory to find me an’ gimme back that deed; an’ when he finds how things stands he settles down here to see I git my rights. With this thing a’ hangin’ over him, so far’s he knows, he’s gone back where he was known, to try ’n’ find a feller that witnessed the transfer....”
Kate Hallard was all but sobbing with excitement and fear.
“Lord above us,—if they is any!” she gasped. “They ain’t never a man like that. He’s pure angel!”
“Naw; he ain’t that, quite,” Sandy said, swallowing hard. “He’s man enough to need that gold-mine in his business, one o’ these days, an’ he stands to git robbed o’ that, I’m afraid.”
“How can they touch it? He’s an innercent man.”
“Yes; but he’s a criminal yet, in the eyes o’ the law, if he ain’t bin pardoned an’ cleared. So his notice an’ filin’ ain’t legal.”
“Hell!” he exclaimed, and begged pardon next instant. “I wish I was in Prescott,” he added.
“What would you do in Prescott?” Mrs. Hallard asked, eagerly.
“Do? I’d see the Gov’nor; git them papers made out, an’ scoot fer Tucson an’ bring that there filin’ up to date.”