“I don’t see; you forget his money.” The blind man’s tone was very low. “You forget he intends to buy a ranch and stock. You forget that he has twenty-five thousand dollars to expend. Bah! I’ll never make a business man of you.”
“And what about your girl?” Jake asked, quite unmoved by the other’s explanation.
“My girl?” Marbolt laughed softly. “You are always harping on that. He will leave my girl alone. She knows my wishes, and will—shall obey me. I don’t care a curse about him or his affairs. But I want his money, and if you will only see to your diabolical temper, I’ll—we’ll have it. Your share stands good in this as in all other deals.”
It was the foreman’s turn to laugh. But there was no mirth in it. It stopped as suddenly as it began, cut off short.
“He will leave your girl alone, will he?” he said, with a sneer. “Say, d’you know what he was doin’ around this house last night when he saw those hoss-thief guys, or shall I tell you?”
“You’d better tell me,” replied the rancher, coldly.
“He was after your girl. Say, an’ what’s more, he saw her. An’ what’s still more, she’s promised to be his wife. He told me.”
“What’s that? Say it again.” There was an ominous calmness in the blind man’s manner.
“I said he was after your girl, saw her, and she’s—promised—to—be—his—wife.”