Thus abruptly did California Bill close the matter of Sweet’s persecution, intimating that he would attend to everything and relieve Joshua of all worry.
“Why, didn’t you know?” Joshua returned. “She and her mother have gone on the inside for a few weeks—to visit the Montgomerys.”
“To visit th’ Montgomerys, eh?”—and the keen slate eyes of the old freighter studied Joshua from under their dense black cheval-de-frise. “Jack Montgomery in th’ mountains these days?”
“No, he’s still in the city.”
California intermittently separated and spread his thick fingers on the table before him, watching the operation thoughtfully.
“Did ye ever ask Madge to marry ye, Tony?” he asked suddenly.
Joshua’s face flamed red. “I—I— Come to think of it, I don’t believe I ever did, Bill.”
Bill snorted softly and ceased his finger exercise to absently toy with one of the fluffy little white rabbit tails that puffed out above the lobe of each of his ears.
“You’re a hell of a lady’s man,” he observed disgustedly. “Say, Tony, if ye let that dude of a Jack Montgomery get Shanty Madge away from ye, I’ll—I’ll— I’m off ye f’r life, that’s all! Maybe ye savvy Mars, but ye don’t know anything about Venus. Ye’re loco in th’ head when it comes to the mujeres.”
“I’ve let Madge see what I am,” Joshua said. “If she wants me, she— Well, it’s up to her.”