Gordon nodded.
"Sure."
"Fixed anything?"
"Quite a—lot."
"You're lookin' kind of—happy?"
"Guess that's more than—Slosson was."
Mallinsbee's eyes became quite serious.
"I told Hazel just now I'd get along back. You see, I kind of remembered you just weren't sweet on Slosson, and guessed after all I'd best be around when he came. Hazel thought it might be as well, too. Specially as she didn't want to sit around and find no Slosson turn up. So——"
Gordon was on his feet in an instant. All his smile had vanished. A look of real alarm had taken its place.
"She was waiting for that skunk? Where?" he demanded in a tone that suddenly filled the father with genuine alarm.