He stood very still, without asking a question, until she had finished.
"I guess you're right," he said with set jaws; "and I know the man who holds the note. If Beatrice is to give Brand her answer to-night, it means that Davies is coming here to squeeze the Colonel, and if his train's on time, he ought to make the Grange in about three hours."
"And you'll be there to meet him?"
Harding smiled.
"When I'm wanted I like to be on hand, and I guess I'm wanted pretty badly now."
"You certainly are. I suppose you see what you must do?"
"If there's a note out with my name on it, it has got to be taken up. You can leave the thing to me. I meet my obligations."
Mrs. Broadwood saw that he had found a more effective way of dealing with the situation than had yet occurred to her.
"Craig," she exclaimed with frank admiration, "you're a wonder!"
He held out his hand with a twinkle of rather grim amusement.