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Updated: July 16, 2025
"Well, although I do not altogether approve of him, I fancy that if there is anybody in this district able to help us that is the man. There remains the question is he willing?" Nellie Townshead still busied herself at the stove. "I think he is," she said. Townshead straightened himself a trifle in his chair. "Then, I am curious to know why he should be," he said.
Has Hallam got a hold upon the ranch?" Miss Townshead appeared astonished, and did not answer for a moment. "I fancied you did not know, but he has," she said. "He came up to see my father a week ago, and that is why we are selling the stock." Alton's face darkened. "That man's of the same breed as the panther, only the panther lets up when he's full. Well, you needn't tell me any more.
Through the silence she heard a faint drumming down the valley. "He is coming. Stop them, father," she said. Nobody else apparently heard the sound. The eyes of all in the clearing were fixed upon the auctioneer, and while Townshead rose from his chair he brought down his hand.
"Of course," he said; "I'm going." Nellie Townshead laughed bitterly. "If I had intended to shut you out I should scarcely have asked you in," she said. The young man came back in a few minutes, and by that time there were a few plates upon the table. He sat down, and then stood up once more when he saw the girl standing close by with a tray. "You must let me wait upon myself," said he.
There was also pressing need of some one to look to for guidance in her time of necessity, because Townshead was not the man to grapple with any difficulty, and most of his neighbours knew little or nothing about the cities. "Father," she said, "in case the purchaser turns us out where shall we go to-night?
"Well," said Alton simply, "there must be a way somewhere, and I'm going to find it." "Then," said Seaforth, with a trace of bitterness, "for the sake of everybody's peace of mind I hope you will. You seem especially compassionate towards Miss Townshead." Alton glanced at him a moment, and then laughed a little.
"The city hasn't made much difference in you," said Seaforth, watching his comrade intently. "It must have been a load off your mind when she refused you?" Alton straightened himself a little. "I don't like the way you put it, Charley. Whoever gets Miss Townshead will have a treasure. The girl's good all through. Now I think I've told you everything, and I don't ask if you believe me."
"Otherwise I should not have mentioned it to her. The storekeeper having been victimized lately, however, requires a deposit of one hundred dollars." Alton took out his wallet. "He can have two hundred if he likes. Now I want you to fix it up without telling Miss Townshead or anybody." "You are a relation of hers?" said the man. "No," said Alton, "I am a friend."
"My husband is a member of the company which employed Miss Townshead, and as the man's business affairs were antagonistic to theirs she was dismissed immediately." Alice Deringham found it very difficult to conceal the effect of this last blow, and was turning away when two women rose from a divan behind the screen. "The tea is cold. Shall I ask for some more for you?" said one of them.
Alton nodded, and there was a very kindly smile in his eyes. "Yes; I'm beginning to understand a good deal," he said. "I'm very glad, for there are not many girls like Miss Townshead in the Dominion. Charley, you're a lucky man, but why have you been so long over it? It never struck me that you were bashful." Seaforth smiled mirthlessly.
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