"How do you know he's not crooked?" asked Sara.
Pen drew a startled breath. Ames looked at Sara curiously. "I thought you was his friend."
"He's my wife's friend," replied Sara. "You know what the Congressional committee reported about him."
"Sara!" cried Pen. "You know Jim couldn't do a crooked thing to save his life!"
Sara's black eyes blazed dangerously. Mrs. Ames stirred uncomfortably and Pen rose. "Let's leave the men to their land sales and go out where we can get a view of the camp, Mrs. Ames," she said.
The two women walked slowly out to the mountain edge and settled themselves on a rock.
"I'm sorry anything unpleasant occurred," said Pen.
"Don't you let it worry you," replied Mrs. Ames. "I'm used to it. Ever since the dam was started, Oscar has been like an old maid with an adopted baby."
"I'm so sorry Jim has made himself unpopular here," said Pen. "He and I were brought up by my uncle who married Jim's mother. And Jim is fine. The Lord made Jim and then broke the mold. There's no one like him; no one cleaner and truer——"
Mrs. Ames looked at Pen thoughtfully. Then she patted the girl's hand.