He took his stand at a window beside the front door. The night was almost as bright as day, and he could see clearly for hundreds of yards up the white road. So he stood for fifteen minutes, and nobody came in sight.
"Never before in all my life did I put in such a day as this," he reflected.
Then he heard Timothy's husky voice.
"I feel a mite better now. Maybe we'd best get out, Mr. Banks."
CHAPTER XVIII
DICK GOODINE RETURNS UNEXPECTEDLY
To hark back! After Mr. Banks' departure on his secret mission, Reginald Rayton climbed out of bed and dressed himself as well as he could. As it was hopeless to attempt a coat, he folded several blankets about his shoulders, the red one outside. Then he went down to the sitting room, where a good fire was burning, and shouted for his new stableboy. Bill Long entered from the kitchen and sat down, when requested, on the outer edge of an armchair. He answered a dozen questions concerning the horses and cattle fluently; but when his employer asked him suddenly if he knew of any one who held a grudge against him—Rayton—the youth rubbed one gray-socked foot across the other and scratched the back of his head uneasily.
"You will be helping me out if you say what you think, Bill," encouraged Rayton.
"Well," replied Bill, "they do say as how you an' Doc Nash ain't any too friendly."