“You saw ’em start for a walk, did you? Well, you saw me follow ’em, then. Chased ’em to the edge of the falls and hid.”
“What sort of talk is she giving him?”
“Talk! I couldn’t hear. I don’t like water, anyway. I like it less when it bangs down over rocks and stops me from hearing what I want to hear.”
“What does she tell you?”
“She has only shot a few words at me like beans out of an air gun. Claims she’s here on the case.”
“Do you believe that?”
“I don’t dare to tell her that I don’t believe it—considering the way she stands in with Mern. It may be his afterthought—he’s a bird that flies funny sometimes, you know.”
“Leave her to me; I’ll dredge her to-morrow.”
“That’ll be good dope; she’ll have to bring in your meals as soon as you give orders to Brophy.”
“They’ll have to be snappy orders to make him stop bringing ’em himself,” said Miss Elsham. “The old fool stood around while I was eating supper and told me how much money he has saved and how lonesome he is since his wife died. I have told him to send Latisan to me this evening on a matter of business, no matter how late Latisan comes in. He’s too jealous to give the word, I do believe.”