"Go in and talk to Mrs. Farquhar. Keep clear of Nevis, and ride home as soon as you can after supper. If you feel compelled to mention the thing, there's no reason why you shouldn't to-morrow. It won't do much harm then."
He went down the steps and along the street, and when he came back some time later he found Alison waiting for him on the veranda.
"So you heard what Dave told me? I thought you did," he said.
"Yes," assented Alison. "The question is whether Nevis heard him too."
"He certainly heard part, but there are one or two things he can't very well know. For instance, it was Slaney's intention to ride in to the railroad as soon as he'd had supper."
"Forrester's place must be at least two leagues from here," commented Alison.
"About that," Thorne agreed with a smile. "It's far enough to make it exceedingly probable that anybody who started from this settlement when he'd had his supper would only get there after Winthrop had gone."
"But Nevis might send a messenger immediately."
Thorne shook his head.
"It strikes me as very unlikely that he'd get any one to go. There are only one or two horses in the place, and I've been round to see the men to whom they belong."