“Not back yet. What’ll he do with them, Lon?” the girl asked, her voice low and troubled.
Distressed in soul, she was looking for comfort. The big foreman gave her none.
“He’ll do a plenty. You don’t need to worry about that. We aim to keep this country safe for our womenfolks.”
“Oh, I wish he wouldn’t. I wish he’d let them go,” she said, almost in a wail.
“He won’t. Clint ain’t that soft.” Forbes stared at the disreputable vagrant standing beside Betty. “What’s he doing here?”
“Dusty dragged him back. That’s all the sense he has.”
Lon spoke just as though the vagrant were not present. “Lucky for him he’s got an alibi this time.”
“Is it necessary to insult him after he protected me?” the girl demanded, eyes flashing. “I’m ashamed of you, Lon.”
He was taken aback. “I reckon it takes more’n that to insult a hobo.”
“Is a man a hobo because he’s looking for work?”