“You said it, Miss Dale. His land and everything,” returned Lance, his tone still grim. “First they was all for tryin’ to prove that Garry ain’t got no land—which was about the same as tellin’ Garry he ain’t been born. Then, when all the law sharpers they got on their string couldn’t prove nothin’ to nobody’s satisfaction—’ceptin’ maybe Larrimer’s—they tried drivin’ Garry to sell.”
“Oh!” gasped Dorothy. “As if he would!”
“That’s just it, Miss Dale,” agreed Lance Petterby approvingly. “Garry would just as likely sell his right arm off’n him as to part with any of his land. And after that they tried different tactics, and I must say for them that they’ve been pretty thorough—haven’t left one little stone unturned, as you might say.”
Susan Petterby again nudged her husband as though to tell him he had gone far enough. But Dorothy’s insistence was not to be denied.
“What did they do, Lance? Please tell me. I will find out from Garry, anyway, when I see him. So you might as well.”
“Well, I ain’t no diplomat,” said Lance ruefully. “What with Sue here cavin’ in my ribs every time I open my mouth and with Miss Dale clamorin’ for information——”
“Please let him tell me, Mrs. Petterby,” coaxed Dorothy, while Tavia giggled delightedly. “I’ve known all along that Garry was having a good deal of trouble—he told me that himself. So really, you see, Lance is only filling in the details.”
“Well, when he gets to talkin’ there generally ain’t no stoppin’ him,” the young wife warned amiably. “But as long as you don’t mind——”
Lance took advantage of this permission to launch immediately into a rambling account of the unremitting persecution Garry Knapp had suffered ever since he came into possession of his Uncle Terry Knapp’s property.
When he had finished Dorothy’s cheeks were hot and in her heart was a tremendous indignation. And the thought of Joe in company with the despicable Larrimer was maddening.