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going to leavehas already； in fact。 He has had a fine position offered him
by the Indian agent at Belknap。 The agent used to be a friend of father's。〃
She looked at Rowdy sidelong； and then went straight at what was in the
minds of both。
〃I'm sorry to hear； Mr。 Vaughan； that you are on bad terms with Harry。 What
was the trouble？〃 She turned her head and smiled at himbut the smile did
not bring his lips to answer； it was unpleasantly like the way Harry smiled
when he had some deviltry in mind。
Rowdy scented trouble and parried。 〃Men can't always get along agreeably
together。〃
〃And you disagree with a man rather emphatically； I should judge。 Harry said
you knocked him down。〃 Politeness ruled her voice； but cheeks and eyes were
aflame。
〃I did。 And of course he told you how he took a shot at me from a dark
corner； outside。〃 Rowdy's eyes； it would seem； had kindled from the fire in
hers。
〃No； he didn'tbut Iyou struck him first。〃
〃Hitting a man with your fist is one thing；〃 said Rowdy with decision。
〃Shooting at him from ambush is another。〃
〃Harry shouldn't have done that；〃 she admitted with dignity。 〃But why
wouldn't you take a drink with him？ Not that I approve of drinkingI wish
Harry wouldn't do such thingsbut he said it was an insult the way you
refused。〃
〃Jessie〃
〃Miss Conroy； please。〃
〃Jessie〃he repeated the name stubbornly〃I think we'd better drop that
subject。 You don't understand the case； and； anyway； I didn't come here to
discuss Harry。 Our trouble is long standing； and if I insulted him you ought
to know I had a reason。 I never came whining to you about him； and it don't
speak well for him that he hot…footed over to you with his version。 I
suppose he'd heard about meergoing to see you； and wanted to queer me。
I hope you'll take my word for it； Jessie； that I've never harmed him； all
the trouble he's made for himself； one way and another。
〃But what I came over for to…day concerns just you and me。 I wanted to tell
you thatto ask you if you'll marry me。 I might put it more artistic；
Jessie； but that's what I mean； andI mean all the things I'd like to say
and can't。〃 He stopped and smiled at her； wistfully whimsical。 〃I've been
three weeks getting my feelings into proper words； little girl； and coming
over here I had a speech thought out that sure done justice to my subject。
But all I can remember of it is just thatthat I want you for always。〃
Miss Conroy looked away from him； but he could see a deeper tint of red in
her cheek。 It seemed a long time before she said anything。 Then： 〃But you've
forgotten about Harry。 He's my brother； and he'd beeryou wouldn't want
him related to you。〃
〃Harry！ Well； I pass him up。 I've got a pretty long account against him； but
I'll cross it off。 It won't be hard to dofor you。 I've thought of all
that； and a man can forgive a whole lot in the brother of the woman he
loves。〃 He leaned toward her and added honestly： 〃I can't promise you I'll
ever get to like him； Jessie； but I'll keep my hands off him； and I'll treat
him civil； and when you consider all he's done； that's quite a large…sized
contract。〃
Miss Conroy became much interested in the ears of her horse。
〃The only thing to decide is whether you like me enough。 If you do； we'll
sure be happy。 Never mind Harry。〃
〃You're very generous；〃 she flared； 〃telling me to never mind Harry。 And
Harry's my own brother； and the only near relative I've got。 I know
he'simpulsive； and quick…tempered； perhaps。 But he needs me all the more。
Do you think I'll turn against him； even for you？〃
That 〃even〃 may have been a slip； but it heartened Rowdy immensely。 〃I don't
ask you to；〃 he told her gently。 〃I only want you to not turn against me。〃
〃I do wish you two would be sensible； and stop quarreling。〃 She glanced at
him briefly。
〃I'm willing to cut it outI told you that。 I can't answer for him；
though。〃 Rowdy sighed； wishing Harry Conroy in Australia； or some place
equally remote。
Miss Conroy suddenly resolved to be strictly just； and when a young woman
sets about being deliberately just； the Lord pity him whom she judges！
〃Before I answer you； I must know just what all this is about；〃 she said
firmly。 〃I want to hear both sides； I'm sure Harry wouldn't do anything
mean。 Do you think he would？〃
Rowdy was dissentingly silent。
〃Do you really； in your heart； believe that Harry wouldknowinglybe
guilty of anything mean？〃 Her eyes plainly told the answer she wanted to
hear。
Rowdy looked into them； hesitated； and clung tenaciously to his
convictions。 〃Yes； I do； and I know Harry pretty well； Jessie。〃 His face
showed how much he hated to say it。
〃I'm afraid you are very prejudiced；〃 she sighed。 〃But go on； tell me just
what you have against Harry。 I'm sure it can all be explained away； only I
must hear what it is。〃
Rowdy regarded her； puzzled。 How he was to comply he did not know。 It would
be simply brutal to tell her。 He would feel like a hangman。 And she believed
so in Harry； she wouldn't listen； even if she did； he thought bitterly； she
would hate him for destroying her faith。 A woman's justiceah； me！
〃Don't you see you're putting me in a mighty hard position； girlie？〃 he
protested。 〃You're a heap better off not to know。 He's your brother。 I wish
you'd take my word that I'll drop the whole thing right where it is。 Harry's
had all the best of it； so far； let it stand that way。〃
Her eyes met his coldly。 〃Are you afraid to let me judge between you？ What
did he do？ Daren't you tell？〃
Rowdy's lids drooped ominously。 〃If you call that a dare；〃 he said grimly；
〃I'll tell you； fast enough。 I was a friend to him when he needed one mighty
bad。 I helped him when he was dead broke and out uh work。 I kept him going
all winterand to show his gratitude； he gave me the doublecross； in more
ways than one。 I won't go into details。〃 He decided that he simply could not
tell her bluntly that Harry had worked off stolen horses on him； and worse。
〃Ohyou won't go into details！〃 Scorn filled eyes and voice。 〃Are they so
trivial； then？ You tell me what you did for Harryplaying Good Samaritan。
Harry； let me tell you； has property of his own； I can't see why he should
ever be in need of charity。 You're like all the rest； you hint things
against himbut I believe it's just jealousy。 You can't come out honestly
and tell me a single instance where he has harmed you； or done anything
worse than other high…spirited young men。〃
〃It wouldn't do any good to tell you；〃 he retorted。 〃You think he's just
lacking wings to be an angel。 I hope to God you'll always be able to think
so！ I'm sure I don't want to jar your faith。〃
〃I must say your actions don't bear out your words。 You've just been trying
to turn me against him。〃
〃I haven't。 I've been trying to convince you that I want you； anyway； and
Harry needn't come between us。〃
〃In other words； you're willing to overlook my being Harry's sister。 I
appreciate your generosity； I'm sure。〃 She did not look； however； as if she
meant that。
〃I didn't mean that。〃
〃Then you won't overlook it？ How very unfortunate！ Because I can't help the
relationship。〃
〃Would you； if you could？〃 he a