Gordon looked down at his cigar. “Well,” he said, “I’m a little worried on her account. She was attempting to do a great deal more than was good for her when I last saw her. They have no longer a hired man at the ranch. Waynefleet, I understand, is rather tightly fixed for money, and, as you know, he isn’t the kind of man who would deny himself. He was talking of selling some stock.”
Nasmyth suddenly straightened himself, and closed one hand rather hard on the arm of his chair.
“What right have you and I to be lounging here when that girl is working late and early on the ranch?” he 196 asked. “Gordon, you will have to buy two or three head of that stock at double value for me.”
“It’s rather a big question;” and Gordon’s tone was serious. “In fact, I fancy it’s one that neither you nor I can throw much light upon. Anyway, I may as well point out that I arrived here only yesterday, and I’m going on again in the morning. As to the other matter, Laura Waynefleet has friends who will stand by her.”
“Don’t you count me one of them?” Nasmyth demanded. “That girl saved my life for me.”
Gordon glanced round sharply, for there were light footsteps on the veranda, and he almost imagined that a white figure in filmy draperies stopped a moment. It, however, went on again and vanished in the shadow.
“I believe she did,” he admitted. “Well, if there’s anything that can be done, you may rely on me.” He made an abrupt gesture, and as he turned, the light from the window fell upon his face, showing the curious smile on it. “What are you doing here?”
He flung the question at his comrade, and Nasmyth, who knew what he meant, sat for a moment or two with wrinkled forehead. There was no reason why he should not stay there so long as Mr. and Mrs. Acton desired his company, but it did not seem fitting that he should spend those summer days in luxurious idleness while Laura Waynefleet toiled late and early at the lonely ranch. Again, he seemed to see her steady eyes with the quiet courage in them, and the gleam of her red-gold hair. Even then she was, he reflected, in all probability occupied with some severe drudgery. It was a thing he did not like to contemplate, and he almost resented the fact that Gordon should have brought such thoughts into his mind. His comrade had broken in upon his contentment like a frosty wind that stung him to action. Still, he answered quietly.
“I am within easy reach of the city here,” he explained. 197 “Acton, who has once or twice given me good advice, is acquainted with most of the folks likely to be of any use to us, and has laid the scheme before one or two of them. That, at least, is one reason why I am staying at Bonavista. It’s perfectly evident that it wouldn’t be any benefit to Miss Waynefleet if I went back to the Bush.”
“No,” agreed Gordon grimly; “if you were likely to be of any use or consolation to her, you’d go, if I had to drag you.”