“Say, Sis, she’s poor and struggling. She’s dead poor, and fighting a battle only fit for a strong man. She didn’t say it. No. She’s grit. But I could see it. It was lying back of all she said. I want to help her. I want you to help me help her. Say, that girl’s life’s got to be made easy. And—and I’m going to make it that way.”
Blanche laughed softly. She was sitting with her hands clasped in her lap. Never in her life had she enjoyed herself as she was enjoying herself now. A little tender raillery shone in the eyes that were gazing so affectionately upon her brother.
“You’re going to do more than that, Jim,” she cried triumphantly. “If I know you, I know what your help means. You’ve fallen for this ‘prairie flower’—or should I say ‘mountain flower’? You’re going to marry her.” She shook her head as the man’s eyes widened at her challenge. “It’s no use, boy. You can’t deceive me. I—I know the signs too well.”
Jim laughed a little self-consciously.
“Can you beat it?” he inquired, appealing to the stove. “Isn’t that a woman all over? Tell her of a girl, another girl; show her you’re interested, and mighty grateful, and want to help her; and right away you’re plumb in love, and mean to marry her. Say!”
“Deny it, boy,” Blanche cried teasingly. “Deny it, and I’ll believe you.”
Jim shook his head, and refilled and lit his pipe.
“I’ll deny nothing, Sis. I won’t hand you that satisfaction. But you’re going to tell me right here and now that you’ll help me to help Molly Marton.”
“Molly Marton? So that’s her name.” Blanche laughed again. “Oh, I’ll get all the story directly. Molly. I like the name.” Then, quite suddenly, her teasing passed and her eyes sobered.
“Jim, dear, there’s not a thing in the world I wouldn’t do to help pass you the happiness you deserve. Molly Marton shall get all the friendliness I know how to show her. And if she’s the girl you reckon her to be, I shan’t regret a thing of our time in these hills. Say, this is the most exciting thing I’ve known in years. Help? You’ve only got to start me right. Just tell me the thing you need me to do. And I’ll do it—to the limit.”