Part 43 (2/2)

”I have no objection to anything you choose to do, Friar,” I said, finis.h.i.+n' my supper.

”Do I understand that you approve?” sez he.

”Certainlee not,” sez I. ”Ty would see the connection between you and Promotheus at once. He knows 'at The was a deserter, and he would set the law on him in one direction, and try to run him down on his own hook in the other. If you had been on hand while we were discussin'

the plan, you would have had the right to veto it; but now, it looks to me as though Prometheus was the one to consider.”

The Friar sat down and ran his hands through his hair. ”I can't see any way out!” he sez at last; ”but I'm forced to admit that since Promotheus has gone down there, it would put him in danger for me to interfere.”

”Well,” sez ol' Tank, ”here is The himself. Now, we'll know better what to do.”

We looked up, and there was Promotheus with a bruise over his eye, comin' into our little nook.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

A SIDE-TRIP TO SKELTY'S

We all crowded around him, thinkin' 'at the bruise betokened some sort of trouble; but he said he'd got afraid they'd begin to suspicion him; so he had tried to ride a hoss that day, and had let it buck him off.

He said the' wasn't much lettin' needed, as it had been a mean one; but he had got his forehead grazed, and had lain on the ground, claimin' his back was hurt. It was only about eight o'clock, and we wondered how he had the nerve to come so early; but he said they were havin' a drinkin' bout over havin' dogged a feller by the name o'

Bryce off his claim on Ice Crick, thus gettin' a new outlet to gra.s.s and water.

He said the woman had been mighty good to him after his fall; but that he couldn't get her to talk about herself at all. ”Have you ever mentioned the name of Carmichael to her?” I asked.

”No,” sez he, ”why should I?”

”That's the Friar's name,” sez I. ”He used to preach in a regular church down east, and she sang in the choir. Next time you get a chance, try to draw her out about this.”

The Friar told him a lot o' small details to ask her about; and went part way back with him, as he wouldn't stay long for fear o' bein'

missed. The Friar insisted on stayin' along with us, while Olaf went back to the Spread.

Two nights after this Promotheus came up to our camp again. He said he had had several talks with her, and that she remembered the names and places, all right, but insisted that Carmichael was dead. She said he often came to her in her dreams; but that she knew he had died long ago.

”Does she ever sing?” asked the Friar.

”Never,” sez The. ”She don't even talk much. She has some sort of a pain in her head, and sometimes she seems to wander; but at other times she is perfectly clear.”

”Is Ty Jones ever mean to her?” asked the Friar.

”Never,” sez The. ”Ty ain't mean to those about him. He has his own idees-he likes to have his men and dogs and hosses all fierce and nervy-but he's not mean to 'em. And all the boys treat her respectful, too. Fact is, I don't see where we got any grounds to take her away.”

”But she does not care for him,” sez the Friar; ”she could not care for him! He must have used trick or force to bring her here; and you must find out the truth about it. It all depends on you, now.”

”I'm doin' all I can, Friar,” sez The; ”but it's a hard tangle to see through.”

When he left to go back, me an' the Friar and Horace went with him.

”Supposin' they should see you comin' back?” sez the Friar.

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