"I'm going to look into this whole business from first to last," he went on more quietly. "I'll spend the next few days investigating. You got my letter?"
"We went to Clark's for you, and got it there." She added that she had feared Braden, and spoke of his slack courtesy.
"Oh, well," he said, partly in apology for the real-estate agent, "if a man out here don't take off his hat to a girl, that means nothing."
"It wasn't the hat," she answered, and described Braden's further conduct.
Lounsbury blazed up again. "I'll see about that, too," he declared. "He must be another sample of imported manners."
They heard the cheery grinding of a coffee-mill. As if struck by a thought, she looked toward the shack.
"It's about time for me to go in," she said, a little flurried. Then, "Won't—won't you come, too, and take a snack with us? Marylyn'd like to see you."
"Marylyn!" He had read her meaning. "Why, Dallas, you don't meant to say that you—that she still——"
"Yes," very low.
"Well,"—Lounsbury was determined now,—"there's got to be some kind of an understanding. I told you how I felt, and you ran away from me. You shan't do it this time. I'll go to the house, and I'll tell Marylyn just how things are. I will."