Part 25 (2/2)
Walter Stone and his wife made the Marshalls feel at home immediately.
Walter Stone had known Dr. Marshall's father, and he found in the son a pleasant living recollection of his old friend. Aunt Eleanor and Louise had visited with Anne when they were East. She was Anne Winthrop then, and Louise and she had found much in common to enjoy in shopping and sightseeing. Their one regret was that Louise would have to return to the West before her marriage to the young Dr. Marshall they all admired so much. There had been vague promises of coming West after ”things were settled,” as Anne put it. Which was merely another way of saying, ”After we are married and have become enough used to each other to really enjoy a long trip West.”
The Marshalls had arrived with three years of happiness behind them, and apparently with an aeon or so of happiness to look forward to, for they were quiet, una.s.suming young folks, with plenty of money and no desire whatever to make people aware of it.
The host brought cigars and an extra steamer-chair to the wide veranda.
”It's much cooler out here. We'll smoke while the girls tell each other all about it.”
”I _should_ like to sit on something solid for a few minutes,” said the doctor. ”It was a most amazing drive.”
”We're pretty well used to the canon,” said Stone. ”Yet I can see how it would strike an Easterner.”
”Indeed it did, Mr. Stone. There is a thrill in every turn of it, for me. I shall dream of it.”
”Were you delayed at the station?” queried Stone.
”We wired,” said the doctor. ”It seems that the telegram was not delivered. Miss Lacharme explained that messages have to wait until called for, unless money is wired for delivering them.”
”That is a fact, Doctor. Splendid system, isn't it?”
”I am really sorry that we put Miss Lacharme to so much trouble. She had to scare up a team on the instant.”
”Price, the storekeeper, brought you up, didn't he?”
”I don't think so. Miss Louise called him 'Collie,' I believe. He'd make a splendid army surgeon, that young man! He has nerves like tempered steel wire, and I never saw such cool strength.”
”Oh, that's nothing. Any one could drive Price's horses.”
The doctor smiled. ”The young man confided to me that their names were 'Boyar' and 'Apache,' I believe. They both lived up to the last one's name.”
”Well, I'll be--Here, have a fresh cigar! I want to smoke on that.
Hu-m-m! Did that young pirate drive those saddle-animals--drive 'em from the station to this rancho--Whew! I congratulate you, Doctor. You'll never be killed in a runaway. He's a good horseman, but--Well, I'll talk to _him_.”
”Pardon me if I ask you not to, Stone. The girls enjoyed it immensely.
So did I. I believe the driver did. He never once lost his smile.”
”Collie is usually pretty level-headed,” said Walter Stone. ”He must have been put to it for horses. Price's team must have been out.”
”He's more than level-headed,” a.s.serted Dr. Marshall. ”He's magnetic. I could feel confidence radiating from him like suns.h.i.+ne from a brick wall.”
”I think he'll amount to something, myself. Everything he tackles he tackles earnestly. He doesn't leave loose ends to be picked up by some one else later. I've had a reason to watch him specially. Three years ago he was tramping it with a 'pal.' A boy tramp. Now see what he's grown to be.”
”A _tramp_! No!”
”Fact. He's done pretty well for himself since he's been with us. He had a hard time of it before that.”
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