Tex colored quickly. It was the first time she had ever called him “Mr. Alden.”
“Why, what’s the matter?” he asked quickly. “What have I done?”
“You know what you did,” she retorted. “Please don’t bother yourself about my affairs.”
Tex stared at her wonderingly.
“Well, for gosh sake!” he blurted. “Hm-m-m-m! Whatsa matter now?”
But Marion turned away from him and stared out through one of the dirty windows. Tex whistled softly and walked outside. He stopped, turned, as if to go back, but changed his mind and went on up the street, whistling unmusically between his teeth, his brow furrowed.
Lee Barnhardt, the lawyer, was coming from his office, and met Tex in front of the general store.
“Wasn’t that a —— of a verdict, Tex?” he asked
“Verdict? Oh, yeah.” Tex looked thoughtfully at the lean-faced attorney. “I’m wonderin’ who’ll run the Double Bar 8 until after the trial, Lee?”
“I don’t know; never thought about it, Tex. Say, did you hear about that AK tenderfoot getting shot last night?”