For a moment he continued to stare, then dropped the shoe-brush and caught Joe's arm.
"What d'you mean—you don't mean—you don't think—that I—that Nina—that there is anything between us, do you?" he demanded.
Joe turned white to the lips.
"Why I—I——" he managed to stammer.
"Great Jehoshaphat!" ejaculated Lige. "That—that's what's been eatin' you! I couldn't understand it. I thought it was Beatrice——"
"Beatrice? What the dickens do I care about Beatrice!" panted Joe. "I thought you loved Nina—and that she loved you. I saw you kiss her——"
"Well, Lord A'mighty, why shouldn't I kiss her? She's my sister, isn't she? I kiss Ruth and Mary and Sara; why shouldn't I kiss her?"
Joe's heart was pounding so he could hardly speak.
"Yes, but that's different. She isn't our sister, you know. I saw you together the night before we went away, and her arms were around your neck and she was——"
"And she was talking about you every minute of the time, you big booby, begging me to take care of you and bring you home safe and all that! Oh, gosh, this does beat all! Why here was me trying to do the noble brother act and forget all about little Beatrice because I thought you cared for her, while all the time you were hating me like the old Harry because you thought I'd cut you out with Princess! Why, Lord love you, boy, what's the matter with you? Are you blind as a bat? Can't you see how she feels toward you? Why, there never was any one else in the whole world for Nina but just you, ever since that first day when she refused to ride anywhere else in the wagons but beside you!"