Part 18 (2/2)
”Your friends will always be ayly toward Gold Run
On the way they told hiy, and Allen listened with syh,” he said boyishly ”But of course his case is no different from that of hundreds of others who have co the daily grind and ju to fortune at one fell swoop That sounds rather Irish, doesn't it?” he added, with his contagious grin
”You're right about that, I suppose,” said Betty gravely ”As you say, Dan Higgins is just one of a hundred others in the same pitiful fix But at least he has had his drea He chose this sort of life, and so we don't feel so awfully sorry for hiy that we pity She is really a wonderful girl, Allen, and to condemn her to a life of work and poverty is really a crime”
”Well, I didn't do it,” said Allen plaintively, adding quickly as Betty's face clouded: ”I beg your pardon, little girl, I didn't mean to be flippant But, like her father, there are irl Ahis family into it too”
”Then he shouldn't have a family,” said Mollie hotly ”He should h I don't think there is anything worse under the sun,” she added, with such eree with you there,” said Allen, adding whimsically: ”But what a man should do and what he does do are often very different things”
”But you speak of Dan Higgins and Meggy as if they were just ordinary people,” Grace objected, as she flicked the reins gently on Nabob's arching neck ”You seeet that they saved our lives--probably”
”No, I don't forget that,” said Allen gravely ”And I respect your wish to do soratitude” His eyes unconsciously sought Betty's, and a quick glance passed between them that was more eloquent than words
”Then you will help us to help hi I can,” Allen answered, adding, rather dubiously: ”But I don't see what any one can do for theold yet and is short of funds to finance further search, I don't see what any one can do for hi at her
”No-o,” adht of a way yet But I'irls wanted to hug her
They reached the Higgins' y ran eagerly out to the to her unsophisticated eyes like some hero out of a story book, handsome and city-bred, she halted and turned red with eracious and friendly manner, soon set her at ease, but her eyes continued to follow every h in amazement that such a perfect creature could live
”Better look out, Betty,” Grace whispered to the Little Captain when nobody was looking ”Meggy thinks Allen is pretty nice Just watch her, she's hypnotized”
But Betty only smiled Somehow, she felt pretty sure of Allen
The latter struck up a great friendshi+p with old Dan Higgins right aonderful how everybody took to Allen, thought Betty proudly--and soon they were talking like old friends In five ins' irls would have learned in a year
Toward the end AllenGold Run Ranch and the possibility of there being gold upon it
”Waal now,” drawled Higgins, spitting upon the ground reflectively, ”folks here'bouts used to wonder why old Jed Barcolold on thet property, but soet interested Conservative old fellow, Jed Barcolh raisin' cattle and didn't aim to do no prospectin' at his tiood possibility of there being gold on the ranch?” insisted Allen, and the girls held their breath
Dan Higgins gave him a shrewd look and spat once more
”You thinkin' of doin' a little prospectin' on your own hook, Son?” he inquired
”Heavens, no!” answered Allen with convincing sincerity, adding with a sh”
The oldhis thin shoulders belligerently
”You don't mean to tell me you're one o' those ornery lawyer cusses,”
he said, with a disgusted eirls but apparently left Allen unmoved