“Hello the house! Anybody home?”
Both turned. There, sitting upon his borrowed horse, was Mr. Murphy, whose approach had been unobserved. Robinson hastily dropped out of sight, concluding that he had been unseen.
“Oh, Lord!” he murmured. “Stella, bring in this gent quick; I’m going to slaughter him. Friend of mine, sure. Bring him in and give him a doughnut.”
“Good morning,” said the girl, somewhat perplexed at the whole affair. “Weren’t you looking for me?”
“Lookin’ for Miss Shumway, if you’re her,” returned Murphy. He dismounted and came forward toward the veranda. “My name’s Murphy, ma’am. I done bought a mortgage over to Laredo City las’ week, coverin’ this place, and, bein’, in the vicinity, thought I’d drop in and ask about it comin’ due the first of the month.”
The girl’s face whitened a trifle. “The—mortgage?” she stammered. “Why—why, I thought the bank held it——”
“Yes’m.” Murphy took a paper from his pocket as he mounted the steps. “But I done bought her in. Maybe you’d like to look over this——”
He broke off suddenly, for his eyes had fallen upon Robinson. The latter grinned at him cheerfully.
“Step right up, Mr. Murphy; step right up. We’re a whole lot glad to see you. Try a doughnut? Finest you ever seen, I’ll bet.”
Murphy looked paralyzed, and in this case looks did not lie.