He strode off down the trail and Blount pulled up short and stood gazing after him blankly, then he shouted to him frantically and hurried down the slope to where Wiley was waiting impatiently.
“Here, just sign this,” he panted. “I’ll write you out a check. But what’s the matter, Wiley–didn’t the mine show up as expected?”
Wiley muttered unintelligibly as he signed the quit-claim which he retained until he had looked over the check. Then he folded up the check and kissed it surreptitiously before he stored it away in his pocketbook.
“Why, yes,” he said, “it shows up fine. I’ll see you later, down at the house.”
Blount sat down suddenly, but as Wiley clattered off he shouted a warning after him.
“Oh, Wiley, please don’t mention that matter I spoke of!”
“What matter?” yelled back Wiley and at another disquieting thought Blount jumped up and came galloping after him.
“The matter of the Colonel,” he panted in his ear, “and here’s another thing, Wiley. You know Mrs. Huff–she’s absolutely impossible and–well, she’s been making me quite a little trouble. Now as a personal favor, please don’t lend her any money 83or help her to get back her stock; because if you do─”
“I won’t!” promised Wiley, holding up his right hand. “But say, don’t stop me–I’m starving.”
He ran down the trail, limping slightly on his game leg, and Blount sat down on a rock.