“Nor I, but one cannot always judge by appearances, and we must hope that he will treat her well.”
“If he doesn’t she must come back to us. We’ll ask the boys to look out for her. Ira Korner will have an eye to all that concerns Louisa, you may be sure.”
“And if this horrid old war were not going on there would be John and Neal and Reub to see how matters stand. Come, let’s have our breakfast, for Pedro will be back directly.”
It was not very long before Pedro with two other men clattered up to the door and, without ceremony, stalked into the house. “Where’s your man?” cried Bud Haley.
“Oh,” the girls looked at each other in pretended consternation, “he’s gone. He got away.”
“The—dickens he did.” Bud looked at Pedro disgustedly. “You said he was bound. You——”
“He is make fas’. I am see so,” said Pedro, deprecatingly.
“They’re mighty cute, some of these fellows,” put in Blythe Van Dorn, a curly haired, broad-shouldered youth. “They know a trick or two and can get out of ’most any tie-up. How long since he got away?”
“A very little while after Pedro left.”
“Where’s Lou?” Bud looked around inquiringly.