Part 13 (1/2)
”Now, father!” she pleaded. She hated this business.
But Hardy paid not the slightest heed to her. He was a man of action, and women shouldn't interfere--particularly young and pretty girls.
”Then I reckon I'll have to foreclose,” he went on relentlessly. ”There's nothing else to do.” His hands closed tightly, and his hard eyes looked even harder.
”I'm afraid you're right,” Gilbert said. ”I was afraid it would be inevitable. I couldn't have hoped for anything else.”
”I'm sorry,” Jasper Hardy announced; but did not mean it.
Gilbert told him so. ”Moreover, I know how you got your money,” the young man was not afraid to say.
”I know how he got mine, gol darn it!” Uncle Henry cried. Hardy glared at him, seemed to smite him with his eyes.
”I'm not in business for my health,” he said coldly.
”Nor for anybody else's,” Uncle Henry, unabashed, told him.
Angela feared there was going to be trouble. ”Now, daddy, you mustn't--you really mustn't--I feel--”
But her father did not hear her.
”The time's up at eight o'clock,” was all he said, and looked sternly at Gilbert, much as a judge who is p.r.o.nouncing sentence looks at the prisoner at the bar.
”I know it,” said Gilbert.
”Now, daddy--” Angela began again.
Hardy was angry at her repeated solicitation. ”Will you let me alone? This is my business,” he said to her in a firm voice, ”Remember that, and don't attempt to put your finger in the pie. This is my business, I tell you.”
”Yes, I know daddy; but you needn't be so mean about it.”
”I'm a plain man, and I don't believe in beating about the bush. Get that through your head--every one of you, I mean.”
”But you might at least be--” his daughter began once more.
”Won't you please keep still?” His rage was mounting; and his brow darkened.
”I only want you to be nice about it, daddy,” Angela persisted, sweetly.
”How can anybody be nice about a thing like this?” said the man of iron.
”I know I could be,” Angela informed him.
Her father looked at her. ”Well, what would you do?”
”Give him his ranch back, of course!”
Jasper Hardy couldn't believe what he had heard, and from his own child.
”Well, for the love of heaven!” he cried, and almost burst out laughing.
”We've more ranches now than we know what to do with. Everybody is aware of that.”