“Weren’t you afraid, then?” she asked, putting the wonder-note into her voice and laying aside her frank manner, “weren’t you afraid to buy our claim? Or did you feel that you were guided to it, and all would be for the best?”
“That’s it!” exclaimed Denver suddenly putting down his drill to gaze into her innocent young eyes. “I was guided, and so I bought it anyhow.”
“Oh, I think it’s so romantic!” she murmured with a sigh, “won’t you tell me how it happened?”
And then Denver Russell, forgetting the seeress’ warning at the very moment he was discussing her, sat down on a rock and gave Drusilla the whole story of his search for the gold and silver treasures. But at the end–when she questioned him about the rest of the prophecy–he suddenly recalled Mother Trigedgo’s admonition: “Beware how you 134reveal your affection or she will confer her hand upon another.”
A shadow came into his blue eyes and his boyish enthusiasm was stilled; and Drusilla, who had been practicing her stage-learned wiles, suddenly found her technique at fault. She chattered on, trying subtly to ensnare him, but Denver’s heart was now of adamant and he failed to respond to her approaches. It was not too late yet to heed the words of the prophecy, and he drilled on in thoughtful silence.
“Don’t you get lonely?” she burst out at last, “living all by yourself in that cave? Why, even these old prospectors have to have some pardner–don’t you ever feel the need of a friend?”
There it was–he felt it coming–the appeal to be just friends. But another girl had tried it already, and he had learned about women from her.
“No,” he said shortly, “I don’t need no friends. Say, I’m going to load this hole now.”
“Well, go on!” she challenged, “I’m not afraid. I’ll stay here as long as you do.”
“All right,” he said lowering his powder down the hole and tamping it gently with a stick, “I see I can’t scare you.”