It was long past midnight before she slept at all. When they peered in, they discovered her lying staring up at the ceiling, her face pale and her lips moving, as if in prayer.
“Pard,” said Brad, “she sure is a right pretty girl.”
“She is,” agreed Dick. “But you mustn’t forget Nadia Budthorne, old man.”
“Now quit!” remonstrated the Texan soberly. “No danger that I’ll get smashed on this girl, partner. My sympathy for her is aroused a heap, that’s all.”
“When a fellow becomes very sympathetic for a pretty girl, he’s liable to fall in love with her. I fancy your sympathy was aroused for Nadia, to begin with.”
“Well, I don’t judge it was a case of sympathy between you and June Arlington.”
“She certainly deserves sympathy,” said Dick. “Think of her fine brother!”
“I don’t want to think of him!” growled the Texan. “Of all onery coyotes, he certain is the worst!”
“He’s about as bad as they make ’em,” nodded Dick.
“And to think that you even fancied there could be any good in him! Long ago you could have turned him out of Fardale by speaking a word, but you let up on him until at last he drove you out. Pard, I say fair and open that I like you a-plenty, but I do think you made a mistake with Arlington. You must know it now.”