“And you left her in a cruel position when you jumped out of the window. She can’t tell now, so long as there’s any other way. What a foolish thing to do! If you’d just said at first that you were in the garden——Oh, why didn’t you? But after the chances you took rather than to tell—why, Jeff, it would be terrible for her now.”
“I know that, too,” said Jeff. “I suppose I was a fool; but I didn’t want her to get mixed up with it, and at the same time I cared less about hanging than any time I can remember. You see, I didn’t know till the last minute that the garden was going to cut any figure. And do you suppose I’d have that courthouseful of fools buzzing and whispering at her? Not much! Maybe it was foolish—but I’m glad I did it.”
“I’m glad of it, too. If you had to be a fool,” said Charley, “I’m glad you were that kind of a fool. Are you still mad at me?”
Since Charley had recanted, and more especially since he had taken considerate thought for the girl’s compulsory silence, Jeff’s anger had evaporated.
“That’s all right, pardner.... Only you oughtn’t never to talk that way about a girl—even for a joke. That’s no good kind of a joke. Men, now, that’s different. See here, I’ll give you an order to a fellow in El Paso—Hibler—to pay for your horses and your gun. Here’s your belt, too.”
Charley shook his head impatiently. “I don’t want any money. Settle with Pappy for the horses. I won’t take this one back. Keep the belt. You may want it to beat me with sometime. What are you going to do, Jeff? Aren’t you ever coming back?”
“Sure I’ll come back—if only to see Griffith again. I’ll write to John Wesley Pringle—he’s my mainest side pardner—and sick him on to find out who robbed that bank—to prove it, rather. I just about almost nearly know who it was. Old Wes’ll straighten things out a-flying. I’ll be back in no time. I got to come back, Charley!”
The river was in sight. The stars were fading; there was a flush in the east, a smell of dawn in the air.
“Jeff, I wish you’d do something for me.”
“Sure, Charley. What is it?”