“I suppose they talked a lot about me, eh?”
“Quite a lot, Jimmy. Dad said that for a college-educated man, you were the biggest fool in the world; he said it was in your blood and that college brought it out.”
Jimmy laughed chokingly.
“College!” he exclaimed. “Good Lord, that’s a long time back, it seems. I’ve even forgotten how to talk English. I’m as much a part of this country as if I had been born and raised here. I think like a cowboy, Dawn. Mebby I am goin’ broke. I know now that English Ed’s games are crooked. That knowledge will save me money. I’ve been a fool, but I hope to outgrow it. I owe money, gosh! I owe money to the Turquoise City Bank and I owe money to English Ed; but I can pay it all back some day. Your father hates me, because I’m a son of my father. That’s a foolish hate, Dawn. He hates the Big 4. That’s nothin’—so do I. Dad owns the Big 4, and I ought to be loyal to the darned place, but I can’t. I don’t like Slim Regan, the foreman. Dad thinks he’s a wonder. And there you are. Will you marry me, Dawn?”
But before Dawn could answer they heard the plop-plop-plop of horse’s hoofs, and turned to see the dark bulk of a horse and rider coming up to the gate. It was Roaring Rigby.
“Well, if it ain’t Jimmy Moran and Dawn Conley,” he exclaimed.
“Hello, Roarin’,” said Jimmy quickly.
“Good evening, Mr. Rigby,” said Dawn.
“Nice night,” said Roaring. His voice sounded as if he had a bad cold. He cleared his throat harshly.
“Is Pete at home, Dawn?” he asked thickly.