“Don’t matter if he does. Evidence of an accomplice not enough to convict. Soapy overshot himself. I’m here to testify that Sam and he quarrelled before Sam left. Besides, Dutch won’t talk. I drilled it into him thorough that he’d better take his medicine without bringing Sam in.”
She sat for a long time looking out of the window without moving. She did not make the least sound, but the young man knew she was crying softly to herself. At last she spoke in a low sweet voice.
“What can we do for you? First you save Father and then Sam. You risked everything for my brother—to win him back to us, to save his life and now his reputation. If you had been killed people would always have believed you were one of the gang.”
“Sho! That’s nonsense, Miss Kate.” He twisted his hat in his hand uneasily. “Honest, I enjoyed every bit of it. And a fellow has to pay his debts.”
“Was that why you did it?” she asked softly.
“Yes. I had to make good. I had to show your father and you that I had not thrown away all your kindness. So I quit travelling that downhill road on which I had got started.”
“I’m glad—I’m so glad.” She whispered it so low he could hardly hear.
“There was one way to prove myself. That was to stand between Sam and trouble. So I butted in and spoiled Soapy’s game.”
“I wish I could tell you how fine Father thinks it was of you. He doesn’t speak of it much, but I know.”
“Nothing to what I did—nothing at all.” A wave of embarrassment had crept to the roots of his curly hair. “Just because a fellow—Oh, shucks!”