Overton, seeing him now away from the thick shadows of the cabin, gave a low exclamation of astonishment and irritation.
“You—Mr. Haydon! Well, you must confess that if my threats are not pleasant, neither is it pleasant to find 204 some one moving like a spy around that little girl’s cabin. If you don’t want to be treated like a spy, don’t act like one.”
“Well, it does look queer, maybe,” said the other, lamely. “I—I could not get asleep, and as I was walking around, it seemed natural to look in the cabin, though I did not want to disturb them by going in. I think I heard them say she was improving.”
“Did they say that—lately?” asked Overton, earnestly, everything else forgotten for the moment in his strong desire for her recovery. “Who said it—Miss Slocum? Well, she seems like a sensible woman, and I hope to God she is right about this! Don’t mind my roughness just now. I was too quick, maybe; but spies around a new gold mine or field are given pretty harsh treatment up here sometimes; and you were liable to suspicion from any one.”
“No doubt—no doubt,” agreed the other, with visible relief. “But to be a suspected character is a new rôle for me—a bit amusing, too. However, now that you have broached the subject of this new find of yours, I presume Lyster made clear to you that I came up here for the express purpose of investigating what you have to offer, with a view to making a deal with you. And as my time here will be limited—”
“Perhaps to-morrow we can talk of it. I can’t to-night,” answered Overton. “To that little girl in there one-third of the stock belongs; another third belongs to that paralyzed man in the other cabin. I have to look after the interests of them both, and need to have my head clear to do it. But with her there sick—dying maybe—I can’t think of dollars and cents.” 205
“You mean to tell me that the young girl is joint owner of a gold find promising a fortune? Why, I understood Max to say she was poor—in fact, indebted to you for all care.”
“Max is too careless with his words,” answered Overton, coldly. “She is in my care—yes; but I do not think she will be poor.”
“She has a very conscientious guardian, anyway,” remarked Mr. Haydon, “when it is impossible for a man even to look in her cabin without finding you on his track. I confess I am interested in her. Can you tell me how she came in this wild country? I did not expect to find pretty young white girls in the heart of this wilderness.”
“I suppose not,” agreed the other.