"I didn't notice you tried very hard to explain matters this afternoon! Now, did you?"
"I was mad," retorted Frederick, sulkily.
"May I see the message your mother sent?" came quickly from Waldstricker.
Frederick started. Evidently his brother-in-law didn't believe his story.
"If Miss Skinner'll give it to you, you can!" said he. "... I say, Eb, let Madelene and me get out of this the best way we can, won't you? Tell Maddie to behave herself and leave the Skinner girl's name out of her rages at me.... That's all I ask."
"No," thundered Ebenezer, wrathfully. "I won't have my sister in tears all the time over a squatter girl. Madelene says you received letters from her abroad."
"Well, I didn't," snapped back Frederick.
"That's past, anyhow! Now, then, I'm going to tell you something. I need a man to go to San Francisco to our office there, and as Madelene wants a change, I'm going to send you."
Frederick shuddered. Had he dared, he would have rebelled at this wholesale delivering him over, tied hand and foot, to his tempestuous young wife. If he were sent away, what would become of Tessibel? His heart turned sick with apprehension. He had had no time to explain his plans to her.
"You have no objections to going, I suppose?" Ebenezer broke in on his harassing thoughts.