Part 27 (2/2)
”Ah!” said Jardine. ”Weel, I expect ye see----”
”Stannard _laughed_. It was plain he was not at all afraid of Bob.”
”Stannard's no' a fool,” Jardine remarked.
”I thought his carelessness sincere. Besides, Bob soon afterwards implied that Jimmy hit Douglas. I imagine Bob really doesn't know who did use his gun.”
”It's possible,” Jardine agreed. ”My notion is, Jimmy had better keep the woods. In the meantime, I've no use for Bob's hanging round the ranch.”
”Bob will not bother us; I don't think he'll bother Mr. Stannard again,”
said Margaret and got some sewing.
XXI
DEERING'S EXCURSION
Rain beat the bark roof and heavy drops splashed on the floor. Sometimes a gust of wind swept the window opening and smoke blew about, but on the whole the shack was dry and warm. Jimmy thought they had made a good job, and sitting by the fire, he tranquilly smoked his pipe. The Indian, opposite him, plaited a snare; Deering studied a card problem in an old newspaper.
”The game's pretty good, but I soon got on to it,” he said. ”When you locate the bower---- Come across and I'll show you.”
”No, thanks,” said Jimmy, smiling. ”To know where the bower is, is useful, but sometimes you don't know and a ten-spot knocks you out.
Things are like that. Anyhow I've not much use for cards.”
”You were keen. I reckon your keenness cost you something!”
Jimmy nodded. ”That is so; but I really think I wanted to satisfy my curiosity. I wanted the thrills others seemed to get, and I experimented with cards and two or three expensive sports. Now I feel I'd sooner build a shack than win a pot of money on a first-cla.s.s race. The strange thing is, when I was at the cotton mill and d.i.c.k wanted me to study the machinery, I was bored.”
”I expect he tried to force you,” Deering remarked. ”When one is young one doesn't study the things others think one ought----” He frowned and jerked his head. ”Another blamed big drop on the back of my neck!”
”When the rain stops I'll mend the roof,” said Jimmy. ”The shack's a pretty good shack and two or three slabs of bark will cure the leak.
Then I must get some green clay and flat stones for the chimney.”
”You talk as if you meant to remain in the rocks!”
”It looks as if I might have to stay for some time.”
Deering shook his head. ”In a proper cold snap you want double windows, but we have got a hole. Then I've not much use for a blanket door. When the frost begins we have got to quit.”
”But where can we go?”
”I don't know yet; I have thought about your ranch. Jardine stated the police had searched it, and I reckon they won't come back. However, we'll talk about this again. I think Miss Jardine gave you a needle and thread?”
Jimmy said Margaret had done so and inquired why Deering wanted the thread.
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