"Insult her! Bah! You're no fool, Boyd. Why did Hilliard advance that loan?"
"Because he wanted to, I dare say."
"What's the use of keeping that up? You know as well as I do that she worked him, and worked him well. She'd do it again if you asked her. She'd do anything for you."
Boyd broke out roughly: "I tell you. I've heard enough of that talk, Alton. Anybody but an idiot would know that Cherry is far too good for what you suggest. And when you insult her, you insult me."
"Oh, she's good enough," said Clyde. "They're all good, but not perhaps in the way you mean—"
"How do you know?"
"I don't know, but Fraser does. He's known her for years. Haven't you, Fraser?" But the adventurer's face was like wood as they turned toward him.
"I don't know nothing," replied "Fingerless" Fraser, with an admirable show of ignorance.
"Well, judge for yourself." Clyde turned again to Emerson. "Who is she?
Where did she come from? What is she doing here alone? Answer that.
Now, she's interested in this deal just as much as any of us, and if
you don't ask her to take a hand, I'm going to put it up to her myself."
"You'll do nothing of the sort!" Boyd cried, savagely.