Rosalind was faintly puzzled. She could not understand Mr. Davidson's supreme confidence in this nephew as a protector of his island home. He did not seem in the smallest degree anxious for the task.
"You have heard about all the trouble, of course?"
"Er—what?"
"About the burglars and the smuggling and so forth?"
"Oh, yes—yes! But my uncle didn't give any details. He's—he's gone, I suppose?"
There was anxiety in his voice that did not escape her. Rosalind concluded that Billy Kellogg was very much afraid of his uncle.
"He's well on his way to Denver by this time," she assured him. "He has been speaking very well of you, Mr. Kellogg."
"Yes?"
"Indeed, yes! He has told us frequently about your success in New York."
"Has he? Good of him, I'm sure."