He took her in his arms, kissed her as a brother might, and she went within.
"Howd'y, Calthorpe?" said Ladd easily as he entered with McShay and McCloud.
"How are you, Mr. Ladd?"
"I want to talk to Calthorpe alone, if you don't mind," said the agent to the other two.
"Certainly," said Hal; "these gentlemen will step into the house for a moment."
The Irishman drew the preacher toward the upper wing of the house, keeping his eye steadily on the agent who sauntered away. Suddenly he stopped.
"On second thought you may have him," he said sotto voce to McCloud.
"Suppose we divide the responsibility," responded the preacher with a grave face, "and call him—Scotch-Irish?"
And they went within to continue the animated discussion as to the relative contributions of each country to the world's greatness.
As Ladd turned the two men faced each other.