The gypo queen’s lips parted as she opened the cover and read:
“The sons also of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.”
“He wrote that!” she said chokingly, looking up with wide, scared eyes.
Manzanita told all about it then.
“Pa’s gone to Stlingbloke,” said Wing o’ the Crow listlessly. “He’s all gowed up ag’in. I’m runnin’ the outfit. Will be now fer a week, I reckon. And I’m all wore out, too. Now this has come!”
“Wing-o,” said Manzanita softly, “you love Halfaman Daisy, don’t you?”
The gypo queen’s black eyes, suddenly afloat with tears, looked unabashed into the hazel eyes of her friend. “O’ course,” she answered simply. “And you love his pardner, don’t you?”
Manzanita’s cheeks went crimson. “I—I think so,” she made confession. “I can’t say it right out like you do, Wing-o; but I want to protect him. He didn’t steal that bullion.”
“He’s went away with Halfaman,” the other dully pointed out.
“I know. But—but he just couldn’t do such a thing. There’s some horrible mistake.”