Part 26 (1/2)
”Now, we are all here,” said Charlton. ”I had to ask Mrs. Ferret, and I was afraid she'd come.”
”Not her!” said Jim.
”Why?”
”She kin do better.”
”How?”
”She staid to meet her beloved.”
”Who's that?”
”Dave.” Jim didn't like to give any more information than would serve to answer a question. He liked to be pumped.
”Dave Sawney?”
”The same. He told me to-day as him and the widder owned claims as 'jined, and they'd made up their minds to jine too. And then he haw-haw'd tell you could a-heerd him a mile. By the way, it's the widder that's let the cat out of the bag.”
”What cat out of what bag?” asked Lurton.
”Why, how Mr. Charlton come to go to the State boardin'-house fer takin'
a land-warrant he didn' take.”
”How _did_ she find out?” said Isa. Her voice seemed to be purer and sweeter than ever--happiness had tuned it.