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Imagination was continually weaving pictures in her mind of what might happen if the vista of new fortunes that had opened before the little family in the Amity Street cottage really came true. Papa Sherwood's first reports on the matter of the Scotch legacy were not inspiring. "Mr. Bludsoe says we'd better go slow," he said seriously. Mr. Bludsoe was a lawyer of high repute in Tillbury.
From ground to cowboys he looked. Bludsoe was the only one packing a gun. Belllounds saw it, and he was so swift in bounding forward that he got a hand on it before Bludsoe could prevent. "Let go! Give me that gun! By God! I'll fix him!" yelled Belllounds, as Bludsoe grappled with him. There was a sharp struggle.
"Nuthin' much." "Jim, you're a liar," replied the old rancher. "Aw!" exclaimed Jim, crestfallen. "What're you hidin'?... You've got somethin' there. Gimme thet gun." Without more ado Jim handed the gun over. "It's mine, boss," put in Bludsoe. "Ahuh? Wal, what was Jim hidin' it fer?" demanded Belllounds. "Why, I jest tossed it to him when I sort of j'ined in with the argyment.
We was tusslin' some an' I didn't want no gun." How characteristic of cowboys that they lied to shield Jack Belllounds! But it was futile to attempt to deceive the old rancher. Here was a man who had been forty years dealing with all kinds of men and events. "Bludsoe, you can't fool me," said old Bill, calmly.
The artist was taking short, quick puffs on his cigarette, and Philip wondered at the evident eagerness with which he was watching the approaching craft. Until the boat ran close up under the pier its sail hid the occupants. While the canvas still fluttered in the light wind Bludsoe sprang from the bow out upon the rocks with a rope. Three or four of his men followed.
"Wils, you-all air the only eddicated cowman I ever loved, but I'm a son-of-a-gun if we ain't agoin' to come to blows some day," declared Bludsoe. "He shore can sling English," drawled Lem Billings. "I reckon he swallowed a dictionary onct." "Wal, he can sling a rope, too, an' thet evens up," added Jim Montana. Just at this moment Jack Belllounds appeared upon the scene.
With a rattle of blocks and rings the sheet dropped like a huge white curtain, and Philip took a step forward, scarce restraining the exclamation that forced itself to his lips at the picture which it revealed. Standing on the broad rail, her slender form poised for the quick upward step, one hand extended to Bludsoe, was Eileen Brokaw!
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