True to his wife’s prediction, Mr. Carson came right in and, looking at him, Dick became heartily sick of the whole business. Carson was the sort of man one couldn’t help but like instantly. A much older man than Dick had expected, yet agile enough in spite of the white crown of hair, and handsome in a dignified way. He shook hands and took a seat opposite.
“Everyone is welcome here. You’re tired, I expect.”
“And hungry,” Corporal Rand amended.
“Mrs. Carson will soon attend to that,” her husband smiled. “She’ll have something ready in a few minutes. Have you come far?”
“From Fort Good Faith.”
A girl appeared in the open doorway, having come noiselessly, and stood, staring at them. The young lady mentioned in Dewberry’s diary, Dick surmised. She continued to stare as the now somewhat bashful young man stole a glance in her direction, then quickly dropped his gaze.
“Gertrude,” expostulated her father, “that isn’t nice. Either come forward and be introduced or return to the kitchen. My daughter,” he explained, turning his head and speaking to Rand. Gertrude made a wry face, shrugged her pretty shoulders and returned to the room, where her mother was preparing the evening meal. Her place was immediately usurped by a tall youth, older than Dick, who took up the business of staring with considerably more energy and effect, adding a dark scowl or two for good measure. As this was the young man he and Corporal Rand had come all that way to interview, Dick lost no time in giving him a careful appraisal.
Reynold Carson’s appearance was not prepossessing. He resembled neither of his parents. Unlike his sister, he was not good-looking. His mouth turned down at the corners. An unpleasant habit of scowling had etched two deep lines across his narrow forehead.
“A young cutthroat and no mistake,” mused Dick, remembering Dewberry’s verbal picture of him.
It was not until after supper that Rand stated his errand. All except Mrs. Carson were in the room. The boy and girl sat in one corner and conversed in low tones. Rand and Carson had pushed back their chairs from the supper table and had lit their pipes.