Part 58 (1/2)

”Well, I suspicionate they'll be findin' fault with their gun. I have been a-watchin' o' the signs o' the times. If they do, don't you say nothin' to them about it; but I'm ready to take back my part of the property, and I've got a leetle money I might even increase my herd with.”

The sum he mentioned made Keith open his eyes.

”When hard times comes,” continued the old man, after enjoying Keith's surprise, ”I had rather have my money in land than in one of these here banks. I has seen wild-cat money and Confederate money, and land's land.

I don't know that it is much of a compliment to say that I has more confidence in you than I has in these here men what has come down from n.o.body-knows-where to open a bank on n.o.body-knows-what.”

Keith expressed his appreciation of the compliment, but thought that they must have something to bank on.

”Oh, they've got something,” admitted the capitalist. ”But you know what it is. They bank on bra.s.s and credulity. That's what I calls it.”

The old man's face clouded. ”I had been puttin' that by for Phrony,” he said. ”But she didn't want it. _My_ money warn't good enough for her.

Some day she'll know better.”

Keith waited for his humor to pa.s.s.

”I won't ever do nothin' for her; but if ever you see her, I'd like you to help her out if she needs it,” he said huskily.

Keith promised faithfully that he would.

That afternoon Terpy knocked at his door, and came in with that mingled shyness and boldness which was characteristic of her.

Keith offered her a chair and began to thank her for having saved his life.

”Well, I am always becoming indebted to you anew for saving my life--”

”I didn't come for that,” declared the girl. ”I didn't save your life. I just went down to do what I could to help you. You know how that mine got flooded?”

”I do,” said Keith.

”They done it to do you,” she said; ”and they made Bill believe it was to hurt Wickersham. Bill's dead now, an' I don't want you to think he had anything against you.” She began to cry.

All this was new to Keith, and he said so.

”Well, you won't say anything about what I said about Bill. J. Quincy made him think 'twas against Wickersham, and he was that drunk he didn't know what a fool they was makin' of him.--You are going away?” she said suddenly.

”Oh, only for a very little while--I am going off about a little business for a short time. I expect to be back very soon.”

”Ah! I heard--I am glad to hear that you are coming back.” She was manifestly embarra.s.sed, and Keith was wondering more and more what she wanted of him. ”I just wanted to say good-by. I am going away.” She was fumbling at her wrap. ”And to tell you I have changed my business. I'm not goin' to keep a dance-house any longer.”

”I am glad of that,” said Keith, and then stuck fast again.

”I don't think a girl ought to keep a dance-house or a bank?”

”No; I agree with you. What are you going to do?”

”I don't know; I thought of trying a milliner. I know right smart about hats; but I'd wear all the pretty ones and give all the ugly ones away,”

she said, with a poor little smile. ”And it might interfere with Mrs.