Wunpost sat down deliberately at the mouth of the tunnel, on the broad seat she had built along the wall, and handed Wilhelmina the package; and as she sank down beside him the panting fox terrier slumped down at her feet and wheezed. But Billy failed to notice this sign of affection, for as the package was broken open a dainty case was exposed and this in turn revealed a pair of glasses. Not ordinary, cheap field-glasses with rusty round barrels and lenses that refracted the colors of the rainbow; but exquisitely small ones, with square shoulders on the sides and quality showing in every line. She caught them up ecstatically and looked out across the Sink; and Wunpost let her gaze, though 126her focus was all wrong, while he made his little speech.
“Now,” he said, “next time you see my dust you’ll know whether it’s a man or a dog.”
“Oh, aren’t they fine!” exclaimed Billy, swinging the glasses on Blackwater. “I can see every house in town. And there’s a man on the trail–yes, and another one behind–I believe they’re coming this way.”
“Probably Pisen-face Lynch,” observed Wunpost unconcernedly, “I expected him to be on my trail.”
“Why, what for?” murmured Billy still struggling with the focus. “Oh, now I can see them fine! Oh, aren’t these just wonderful–and such little things, too–are you going to use them to hunt horses?”
“No, they’re yours!” returned Wunpost with a generous swagger, “I’ve got another pair of my own. I’ll never forget how you picked me up that time, so this is a kind of present.”
“A present!” gasped Wilhelmina and then she paused and blushed, for of course she had known it all the time. They were small glasses, for a lady, but it was nice of him to say it, and to mention her finding him on the desert. And now her mother would have to let her keep them, for, they were in remembrance of her saving his life.
“It’s awful kind of you,” she said, “and I’ll never forget it–and now, won’t you show me how they work?”
127She drew a little closer, and as her curls brushed his cheek Wunpost reeled as if from a blow.
“Sure,” he said and gave her a kiss just as if she had really asked for it.