“I—I—Well, Miss, it don’t so much matter as long as I git to go. I want to reach the hills.”
“You shall go with us as far as Dugonne, at least,” said Dorothy, impulsively. “I’m sure we can find something for him to do at the Hardin place, Ned?” she added, turning to her cousin.
Ned was more than a little startled by this. Things were moving rather too fast for him. But he managed to say:
“You—you’ll have to settle that with the mater, Dot.” But then he whispered: “What can an old fellow like him do on a ranch?”
“That’s all right,” Dorothy returned. “We’ll make him think he can do something.”
“You do beat all!” gasped her cousin, with astonishment.
Dorothy shook hands with the judge, and with the railroad officers, and with John Dempsey. She scattered the sunshine of her smiles all about the dingy court room, and things seemed to brighten up for everybody.
Then she hurried with Ned to the hotel where Aunt Winnie was waiting.
“My dear girl!” said that good lady. “How you have worried me. And Tavia’s account of your adventures have not served to relieve our anxiety—much. Going to court with a tramp——”
“Not a tramp, Auntie!” interposed Dorothy Dale. “He is one of father’s old comrades. He is a Veteran.”