CHAPTER XV — THE TEXAN PAYS A VISIT
From that day Fraser had a new nurse. Arlie disappeared, and her aunt replaced her a few hours later and took charge of the patient. Steve took her desertion as an irritable convalescent does, but he did not let his disappointment make him unpleasant to Miss Ruth Dillon.
“I'm a chump,” he told himself, with deep disgust. “Hadn't any more sense than to go scaring off the little girl by handing out a line of talk she ain't used to. I reckon now she's done with me proper.”
He continued to improve so rapidly that within the prescribed two weeks he was on horseback again, though still a little weak and washed out. His first ride of any length was to the Dillon ranch. Siegfried accompanied him, and across the Norwegian's saddle lay a very business-like rifle.
As they were passing the mouth of a cañon, the ranger put a casual question: “This Jack Rabbit Run, Sig?”
“Yah. More men wanted bane lost in that gulch than any place Ay knows of.”
“That so? I'm going in there to-morrow to find that man Struve,” his friend announced carelessly.
The big blonde giant looked at him. “Yuh bain't, Steve? Why, yuh bain't fit to tackle a den uh wild cats.” An admiring grin lit the Norwegian's face. “Durn my hide, yuh've got 'em all skinned for grit, Steve. Uh course, Ay bane goin' with yuh.”
“If it won't get you in bad with your friends I'll be glad to have you, Sig.”
“They bain't my friends. Ay bane shook them, an' served notice to that effect.”