“An’ now jest a few words more on the subject o’ not settin’ judgment on the errin’—a subject near my heart.”
This remark of the Girl’s brought forth murmurs of wonder, and in the midst of them the door was pushed slowly inward and The Sidney Duck, wearing the deuce of spades which the Sheriff had pinned to his jacket when he banished him from their presence for cheating at cards, stood on the threshold, looking uncertainly about him. At once all eyes were focused upon him.
“Git! Git!” shouted the men, angrily. This was followed by a general movement towards him, which so impressed The Sidney Duck that he turned on his heel and was fleeing for his life when a cry from the Girl stopped him.
“Boys, boys,” said the Girl in a reproving voice, which silenced them almost instantly; then, beckoning to Sid to approach, she went on in her most gentle tones: “I was jest gittin’ to you, Sid, as I promised. You can stay.”
Looking like a whipped dog The Sidney Duck advanced warily towards her.
Sonera’s brow grew thunderous.
“What, here among gentlemen?”
And that his protest met with instantaneous approval was shown by the way the miners shifted uneasily in their seats and shouted threateningly:
“Git! Git!”
“Why, the fellow’s a—” began Trinidad, but got no further, for the Girl stopped him by exclaiming: