“Oh, sure,” Hawley responded, with an enthusiasm that was well feigned. “By the way, old man, I suppose you’ve heard that he’s going to be married?”
The man with the flushed face looked at him in astonishment. “I thought it was a secret.”
The Camera Chap laughed noncommittally. “Nice girl, isn’t she?” he said lightly.
“Nice? She’s regular peach!” The man winked at Hawley. “And rich, too—that’s more important than being nice. My frien’ Gale’s lucky fellow.”
The Camera Chap was amazed to hear this. Evidently, then, the girl to whom his talkative neighbor referred was not Melba. But the other’s next utterance caused him to change his mind.
“Don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t marry her, if she is his cousin,” the man exclaimed. “Nothing wrong in cousins marrying—especially when girl’s so rich.”
Hawley’s face was a complete mask to his emotions.
“Yes, I guess she’s rich, all right,” he remarked casually. “Let’s see; how much do they say she’s worth?”
The young man looked at him in amazement. “Watcher talkin’ about? She ain’t worth anything now, of course. She won’t get the money until old Leggett’s death. Guess you mean how much is she mentioned for in the will, eh?”
“Sure,” the Camera Chap assented. “That’s exactly what I meant.”