Part 11 (1/2)
Jest below that notch--you can't miss it.”
Wallie had looked at the notch often since then. He was staring at it the evening Canby rode down on him--staring and thinking so hard of Helene Spenceley that Canby had checked his horse and was looking at him before he saw him.
It would be impossible to say which was the more astonished.
Instead of the fearsome person Canby had antic.i.p.ated, he saw one so different and at the same time so extraordinary that he could not immediately collect himself.
Wallie's trunks had followed him, together with a supply of provisions, and now, his day's work done, he was sitting in front of his tent on a patent camp-chair garbed in whatsoever had come handiest.
Canby's eyes rested upon a mild-looking young man in a purple silk lounging robe, hob-nailed mountain boots, and a yachting cap with a black patent-leather visor. He was smoking a cigarette with a gold tip and a monogram, held in a hand that was white and carefully manicured.
In his surprise, Canby said: ”Good evening,” almost amiably.
Wallie, in turn, saw a visitor who looked as if he might just have returned from a canter through Central Park. His appearance was so homelike and familiar that Wallie went forward with a radiant smile of welcome. Before he knew it Canby found himself shaking hands vigorously with the person he had come to quarrel with.
Wallie was sure that it was Canby but it flashed through his mind that perhaps he was not so black as he was painted and Pinkey was given to exaggeration, and very likely Boise Bill had acted upon his own initiative. At any rate, after four days of solitude Wallie would have been delighted to see his Satanic Majesty; so, with his most engaging smile, he invited Canby to dismount and stated that his name was ”Macpherson.”
Canby could do nothing less than give his name also, though he refused the invitation. Whereupon Wallie declared heartily:
”I take this as very nice and neighbourly of you, Mr. Canby, and please believe I appreciate it!”
Canby bowed but said nothing.
”You see, I'm a newcomer,” Wallie babbled, ”and I have so many things to learn that you can teach me. I consider myself fortunate in having a neighbour of your experience, and if you will let me I shall come to you for advice often.”
”Don't hesitate to call on me.” In Canby's eyes there was something like a glint of amus.e.m.e.nt.
Wallie went on guilelessly, finding it an extreme relief, after his enforced silence, to have an ear to talk into.
”The fact is,” confidentially, ”I may not look it but I am a good deal of a tenderfoot.”
”Indeed?” Canby raised a politely surprised eyebrow.
”Yes,” he prattled on, ”I am totally ignorant of agricultural matters; but I hope to learn and make a good thing, ultimately, out of this dry-farming proposition. I've got a little money, and I intend to invest it in developing this homestead. By mixing brains with industry I hope by next fall to get an ample return upon my money and labour. I trust I am not too optimistic?”
”It would not seem so,” Mr. Canby replied, guardedly. ”How are you fixed for horses?”
”I was just going to ask you about that,” Wallie exclaimed. ”I want to plow, and haul some fence posts, and I shall need horses. Can you recommend a team that would suit me?”
”Next Thursday at two o'clock there will be a stock sale at my place and I have no doubt that you will be able to pick up something there for your purpose.”
”That's splendid!” Wallie cried, delightedly. ”I shall seek you out, Mr.
Canby, and ask you to a.s.sist me in making a selection. I've been thinking of buying a cow, too--this is rare good luck, isn't it, to be able to purchase what I need without going so far for it!”
”I shall be present--hunt me up--two o'clock, Thursday.”
With a smile and a nod Canby gathered up his reins and departed while Wallie with a glowing face looked after him and declared aloud:
”That's what I call real Western sociability!”