"The man was pleasant company, and there was, it seemed to me, very little risk of a superior workman attracting Barbara's fancy."
Devine laughed. "I guess I was of no great account when you married me."
"Pshaw!" said Mrs. Devine. "Anyway, you hadn't plotted to steal a mine from the people I belonged to."
Devine's eyes twinkled. "It showed his grit, and 'most anything is considered square in a mining deal. Besides, there were the six thousand dollars Slocum took out of him."
"I am quite aware that such transactions are evidently not subject to the ordinary code, but, seriously, if you would be content with Harford Brooke as my brother-in-law, it is considerably more than I would be. We don't even know why he left the Old Country."
"Well," said Devine, drily, "I guess I have a notion. I've been finding out a good deal about him. But get on with your objections."
"Barbara has a good many dollars."
"So has Brooke. You needn't worry about that point."
Mrs. Devine's astonishment was very apparent. "Then whatever is he working at the mine for—and why didn't you tell me before?"
"I guess it's because that kind of thing pleases him, and, anyway, it's only since last mail came in I knew."