Haynerd whistled. “The hound!” he ejaculated. “Ames is out to do up the Express, eh?”
“There is no doubt of it, Ned,” returned Hitt seriously. “And to utterly ruin all connected with it.”
“Then, by God, we’ll fight him to the last ditch!” cried the excited Haynerd.
“I think you forget, Ned, that we have a lady with us,” nodding toward Miss Wall, “and that you are seriously trying to reform, for Carmen’s sake.”
“I beg your pardon, Elizabeth,” said Haynerd meekly. “I really am trying to be decent, you know. But when I think of Ames it’s like a red rag to a bull!”
Miss Wall laughed. “Never mind, Ned. I admire your fighting spirit.”
“Of course,” Hitt continued, “oil still flows from our paternal wells. But in order to raise money at once I shall be obliged either to sell my oil holdings or mortgage them. They have got to take care of us all now, including Madam Beaubien.”
“Where’s Carmen?” asked Haynerd suddenly.
“Home, with Sidney. There’s another anomaly: while Ames is trying to ruin us, that girl is saving his son. Great world, isn’t it?”