The cowman straightened up, his eyes glinting with righteous indignation.
“What! Go ’way and leave you?––when you want him to stay? By––James! He’s going to stay! Don’t you worry, honey. He’s going to stay, if I have to rope and hogtie him for you!”
The girl stared into the frowning face of her father. There was no twinkle in the corner of his eyes. He was absolutely serious. For the first time in over two days her dimples flashed. Her eyes sparkled with merriment. Her lips parted. But she checked the gay laugh before it could burst out.
“Oh!” she reproached herself. “How could I? And they still down there––and Tom suffering!”
“Tom?” repeated Knowles. “Thomas Blake––your brother! That’s why you got me started reading 387 all those reports and engineering journals. You guessed it.”
“It did not seem possible. Yet I could not help hoping.”
“Things do happen our way––sometimes,” qualified Knowles. “Mrs. Blake––Jenny––says Lafe brought up word that the project can be put through. I meant to fight. But now––he is your brother, and he has done something no man ever before thought could be done––he has surveyed Deep Cañon. He has me beat. I’ve told Mrs.––Jenny straight out.”
“I know he will do what is right by you, dear, dear Daddy.”
“He’s your brother, honey. That settles it.”