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Then he was released and she turned, crying: "Come and thank him, Ed!" But Ed had taken himself off perhaps he did not care to allow anyone to witness his joy. Some time during the evening Hollis took his departure from the Hazelton cabin. Ed had come back, silently taking Hollis's hand and gripping it earnestly. And before Hollis had departed Ed had taken himself into the house.
Then had come a heavy blow on the head he thought that one of the men had used the butt of a revolver. He could dimly remember receiving a number of other blows and then he knew nothing more until he had awakened in the Hazelton cabin. Hollis's opinion of Dunlavey's motive in thus attacking him coincided with Norton's. They might easily have killed him.
Seated at the desk he gave his attention to the tasks before him he was not concerned with rumor; the curiosity of Dry Bottom's citizens did not affect him. Seriously, methodically, steadily, he worked at his desk, while rumor wagged her tongues and curiosity lounged past the window. It was Hollis's first visit to the Kicker office; he had come to work and there was much that he could do.
The thought crossed Hollis's mind that the buckboard that he had seen in front of a store soon after leaving the station must have been Norton's. But now Norton was speaking again and Hollis listened. "Dropped into the Fashion to see my friend Red Eggers," resumed Norton, smiling broadly.
She had found time to change her morning dress for a soft, fluffy creation of some sort, and she stood before them, flushing slightly as both looked at her, a picture that smote Hollis's heart with a sudden longing. Only one glance did she give him and then she was over near Ed's chair, leaning over him, stroking his hair.
He did not look up at Hollis's entrance. "Hello!" greeted Hollis. The man hesitated in his work and looked up. "Hello," he returned, perfunctorily. "I suppose your name is Potter?" Hollis inquired cordially. Judge Graney had told him that if he succeeded in finding the compositor he would have him at the Kicker office this morning. Potter had gone to work without further orders.
Yuma himself inert, limp, rolled from Hollis's back and lay flat on his own, his eyes wide open and staring, two huge bullet holes in his forehead. And in the open doorway of the cabin stood Ten Spot. For an instant Hollis could not realize his escape. He looked at Yuma and then again at Ten Spot. Slowly and painfully he got to his feet, looking around at the wreck of the room.
Dunlavey had lost a little of the composure which had characterized his actions since entering the office and the last words of his speech had writhed venomously through his lips. Hollis's face betrayed absolutely no emotion.
Then suddenly he snapped himself erect and with a single, dexterous movement holstered the weapon. Then his right hand came suddenly out toward Hollis. "Shake!" he said. "By , you're white!" Hollis smiled as he returned the hearty handclasp. "You're cert'nly plum grit," assured Ten Spot as he released Hollis's hand and stepped back the better to look at the latter.
She had disappeared into the cabin, not even looking at Hollis, but she could not have heard Hollis's reply had she remained. For it was wordless. There are times when men understand perfectly without speech. Hollis stayed for dinner. Nellie was radiantly silent during the meal, attending to the wants of the two men, listening while they discussed recent happenings in the county.
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