"Who asks you to?" said Brown, with a touch of scorn. "Be honest in the matter."
"Oh, come now, Brown, let us not chop words. Look at the thing reasonably. I came for help and not—"
"Count on me for all the help I can give," said Brown promptly, "but let's look at your part."
"Well," said French, "we will divide up on this thing. I will undertake to look after the boy's physical and—well—secular interests, if you like. I will teach him to ride, shoot, box, and handle the work on the ranch, in short, educate him in things practical, while you take charge of his moral training."
"In other words, when it comes to morals, you want to shirk."
French flushed quickly, but controlled himself.
"Excuse me, Brown," he said, in a quiet tone. "I came to talk this over with you as a friend, but if you do not want to—"
"Old man, I apologize for the tone I used just now, but I foresee that this is going to be serious. I can see as clearly as light what I ought to say to you now. There is something in my heart that I have been wanting to say for months, but I hate to say it, and I won't say it now unless you tell me to."
The two men were standing face to face as if measuring each other's strength.
"Go on," said French at length; "what are you afraid of?" His tone was unfortunate.