Claiborne crumpled the paper impatiently.
“Shirley, you are against me! I believe you have seen Armitage here, and I want you to tell me what you know of him. It is not like you to shield a scamp of an adventurer—an unknown, questionable character. He has followed you to this valley and will involve you in his affairs without the slightest compunction, if he can. It’s most infamous, outrageous, and when I find him I’m going to thrash him within an inch of his life before I turn him over to Marhof!”
Shirley laughed for the first time in their interview, and rose and placed her hands on her brother’s shoulders.
“Do it, Dick! He’s undoubtedly a wicked, a terribly wicked and dangerous character.”
“I tell you I’ll find him,” he said tensely, putting up his hands to hers, where they rested on his shoulders. She laughed and kissed him, and when her hands fell to her side the message was in her gloved fingers.
“I’ll help you, Dick,” she said, buttoning her glove.
“That’s like you, Shirley.”
“If you want to find Mr. Armitage—”
“Of course I want to find him—” His voice rose to a roar.
“Then turn around; Mr. Armitage is just behind you!”