Avice blushed and looked down. Perhaps she had dreamed,—just dreamed of such a thing.
“Don’t ask me about it now, Kane,” she said, firmly. “I’m all nervous and unstrung. These awful excitements following one another so fast and furious. Oh, I shall break down.” The tears came, but Landon said lightly, “No, you won’t, girlie, it’s all right. I’m here now to look after you. But you’re right. I mustn’t tease you now,—why, I’m back at my old teasing tricks, amn’t I?”
His strong, frank voice quieted Avice, and she looked up at him as Judge Hoyt entered the room.
“Well, Mr. Landon,” he said, “I congratulate you on an escape from a mighty unpleasant predicament. Things looked dark for a few moments back there. But it all came out right. Queer coincidence, wasn’t it?”
“It was all of that, Judge Hoyt. And it was probably more dangerous to—to my peace of mind, than I realized at the time. I was pretty much bewildered at the attack, I can tell you. You see, that was all true about my call on my uncle, and it looked a little plausible, I suppose.”
“H’m, yes. And are you staying East for a time?”
“Forever, I hope. I’ve had enough of the wild and woolly.”
“Mr. Landon will stay here with us,” said Avice, decidedly. “I invite him for an indefinite stay.”
“I hope you’ll accept,” observed Hoyt. “I’d be glad, Avice, for you to have a man in the house. There’ll be more or less unpleasant publicity after this and, until it blows over, Mr. Landon can probably save you from tiresome interviews with reporters, if nothing more.”
“Of course, I can do that. Shall you want to remain in this house Avice, after the estate is settled?”