"Like? Why, she was the sweetest thing on earth. I'd as lief try to describe a day such as this----"
"Oh! I know what's coming. You fell in love with your friend's sweetheart. Poor Mr. Wells!"
Jeff ignored this interruption.
"I was saying that my friend met his mate, nobody's else's, and though he'd never met her before, by Jing! he knew right off she was his mate."
"Love at first sight."
"That's right. Love at first sight."
Sadie's face and figure perceptibly relaxed. Her eyes softened delightfully. With parted lips she seemed to hang upon Jeff's next words.
"Unfortunately, she was the daughter of a thief."
"A thief!"
"That ain't the right word. Embezzler, I reckon, would fit better. Leastwise, he'd made away with other folks' money, meanin' to put it back, no doubt, if he happened to strike the right lead. Luck was dead against him. Mind ye, he was a good citizen enough, as Westerners go. I don't deny that he'd average up as well as most. I remember the case well, because I read about it in the papers. The dry years had bust him, and the most of his friends too. Some o' these friends he'd helped. He was on their notes of hand, ye understand?"