“Miss Allison,” he said regretfully, “that’s the first human I’ve seen in Blue Stone Cañon beside yourself, and it means something to me. It means that Sonny and I must move—at once.”
He sat thinking a moment, then raised his eyes to hers again.
“I believe—if you will trust us a little longer—and if you can keep him hidden—that I will take you up. I’ll give you Sonny for a while. I feel guilty in doing so, for I know how heavily burdened you are already, but some day I shall make it right with you—as handsomely right as possible. Will he be too much trouble?”
“Trouble?” cried Nance, her face radiant, “give him to me this minute!” and she held out her arms.
Brand turned and looked down at the boy, smiling again.
“How about that, kid?” he asked. “Cookies and Miss Allison’s lap instead of the cold cañon and lonesomeness—why—why, old-timer—what’s the matter?”
He pulled the child around a bit to scan him more closely.
The little face was milk-white, the brown eyes wide.
“You—going to—to give me away, Brand?” said Sonny with that curious seeming of maturity which sometimes fell upon him.
The man’s face grew very tender.