She had raised her head. There was an alert look on her face. She leaned slightly toward the window.
“Good God! A man can’t stand everything!” cried Langford, hoarsely. He tore the knotted handkerchief from his throat. It was as if he was choking. Then he put his cool, strong hand to her burning forehead and gently smoothed back the rough hair. Gradually, the fixed look of an indescribable horror passed away from her face. The strained, hard eyes softened, became dewy. She looked at him, a clinging helplessness in her eyes, but sweet and sane.
“Don’t you worry, child,” he said, comfortingly. “They can’t help finding him. Twenty men with the sheriff start on the trail. There’ll be fifty before night. They can’t help finding him. I’m going to stay right here with you till Doc comes. I’ll catch up with them before they’ve gone far. I’ll send word to the boys not to wait. Must be somebody around the house, I reckon, besides the old lady.”
He started cheerily for the door.
“Mr. Langford!”
“Yes?”
“Please come back.”
He came quickly to her.
“What is it?”
“Mr. Langford, will you grant me a favor?”