Winifred Waverly, upon the morning after the dance, came down late to her breakfast, and found that Pollard had waited for her. Although he was not in the habit of offering her this little courtesy, she thought nothing of it at first, having enough of other matters in her brain, perplexing her. But before the meal was over she knew why Henry Pollard had waited for her.
It was plain to her that he realized that some real importance might be attached to the matter of her having seen Buck Thornton last night, of having danced and talked with him. On the ride home he had not referred to the cattle man nor had she. Now, in great seeming carelessness but with his eyes keen upon her, he spoke lightly of the dance, mentioned that he had seen Thornton talking to one of the men at the schoolhouse door and wondered why he had gone so early.
She managed to look at him innocently and to say carelessly as he had spoken:
"I had a dance with him. He didn't say anything about leaving so soon."
She even achieved a little laugh which sounded quite natural, ending,
"He seemed rather put out that I did not receive him like an old
friend!"
"You did not accuse him of having robbed you?"
"Not in so many words," quietly. "But I was certainly not polite to him!
For a little I thought that he was going to return your money to me."
"Why?" Pollard asked sharply, and now she was sure of his readiness to suspect her of holding back something from him.
"He said," she went on, her interest seeming chiefly for her bacon and eggs, "that he was returning something to me I had left at the cabin at Harte's place. I couldn't think of anything but your money."
"What was it?"
"A spur rowel. It had been loose for several days, and dropped out in the cabin. He brought it back to me."