"You mean a partner for a day?"
"Yes. He was mighty nervous about your coming, and I told him I would help him out. Of course, it didn't worry me none, and so I concluded I would do it."
Her face softened as she pondered upon this. "That was very good of you, Mr. Kelley."
"Oh no! You see, I kinda like the boy. And then we've been partners—side partners. We room together."
She looked out of the window, but she saw nothing of the landscape now. "I understand it all. You want me to take mother away before she finds out."
"'Pears like that is the best thing for you to do. It would hit her a good deal harder than it does you."
"It hits me hard enough," she replied. "To think of my brother running a gambling-machine in a saloon is not especially reassuring. You say he went into it to carry him over a hard place. I'm afraid you were saving my feelings in saying that, Mr. Kelley. How long has he been in this business?"
"A little less than a year."
"And you want me to go away without trying to get him out of this awful trade?"
"I don't see how you could safely try it. I think he is going to quit it himself. Your coming has been a terrible jolt to him. Now I'll tell you what you do. You take the old lady and pull out over the hill and I'll undertake to get the boy out of this gambling myself."