Part 9 (1/2)
Bill coughed. Then he turned, and stooping, shook the ashes from the stove and opened the damper.
”Beastly cold in here,” he remarked inconsequently.
”Yes--but, out with it.”
Bill stood up and turned his indolent eyes upon his interrogator.
”I wasn't thinking of going--to the mountains.”
”Where then?”
”To the Yukon.”
”Ah!”
In spite of herself the girl could not help the exclamation.
”Why?” she went on a moment later.
”Well, if you must have it, I shan't be able to last out this summer--unless a stroke of luck falls to my share.”
”Financially?”
”Financially.”
”Lablache?”
”Lablache--and the Calford Trust Co.”
”The same thing,” with conviction.
”Exactly--the same thing.”
”And you stand?”
”If I meet the interest on my mortgages it will take away every head of fat cattle I can sc.r.a.pe together, and then I cannot pay Lablache other debts which fall due in two weeks' time.” He quietly drew out his tobacco-pouch and rolled a cigarette. He seemed quite indifferent to his difficulties. ”If I realize on the ranch now there'll be something left for me. If I go on, by the end of the summer there won't be.”
”I suppose you mean that you will be deeper in debt.”
He smiled in his own peculiarly lazy fas.h.i.+on as he held a lighted match to his cigarette.
”Just so. I shall owe Lablache more,” he said, between spasmodic draws at his tobacco.
”Lablache has wonderful luck at cards.”
”Yes,” shortly.
Jacky returned to the table and sat down. She turned the pages of a stock book idly. She was thinking and the expression of her dark, determined little face indicated the unpleasant nature of her thoughts.
Presently she looked up and encountered the steady gaze of her companion. They were great friends--these two. In that glance each read in the other's mind something of a mutual thought. Jacky, with womanly readiness, put part of it into words.
”No one ever seems to win against him, Bill. Guess he makes a steady income out of poker.”