Part 24 (1/2)

”I've been a good many things,” said Jake.

She nodded again. ”And always the right sort. I wish--” She broke off abruptly.

”What?” said Jake.

”Oh, nothing,” said Toby, with a rather wistful little laugh.

”Let's have it!” said Jake.

Her hand lay in his, and this time she left it there. Her blue eyes met his courageously. ”Only that I'd met you before,” she said.

”Before when?” said Jake. ”Before you met Saltash?”

”Oh no!” Very swiftly, she answered him. ”Oh no! Lord Saltash is among the kings. I'd have been dead by now but for him!” Her eyes kindled as with a sudden glowing memory, she flushed like an eager child. ”You know him?” she said. ”Isn't he--isn't he--fine?”

She spoke with reverence, even with a certain awe. The man's face changed a little, hardening almost imperceptibly.

”Guess he's no great hero of mine,” he said. ”But maybe he has his points.”

”He has!” Toby a.s.sured him with fervor. ”You don't know him like I do.

He's a--he's a masterpiece.”

”That so?” said Jake.

Perhaps Toby felt a lack of sympathy in his tone; she quitted the subject abruptly. ”No, that wasn't what I meant. I only wish I'd met you long ago--years and years ago--when you were a cow-boy.”

”You were a babe in arms then,” said Jake.

She shook her head, quaintly smiling. ”I wasn't ever that. I think I must have been born old--began at the wrong end somehow. Some people do, you know.”

”I know,” said Jake. ”When that happens, there's only one thing to be done.”

”What?” queried Toby.

His eyes were watching her intently, but there was nothing alarming in their scrutiny. He made reply with absolute gentleness. ”Begin again.”

”Ah!” A little sound that was more than a sigh escaped her, and then quite suddenly her other hand came out to him; she lifted a quivering face. ”You going to help me?” she said.

The action touched him. He took her by the shoulders as he might have taken a boy. ”I'll help you,” he said.

”You'll be good to me?” Her voice was quivering also, it had a sound of tears.

”Sure!” said Jake, laconic and forceful.

”Keep me straight and pull me up when I go wrong?” pursued Toby tremulously.

”Yes, I'll do that,” he said.