Inside, he was a river of
tears for her, but with it went a good deal of awe. Even now, wan-eyed
and hollow-cheeked, she was attractive. In Johnnie's lonesome life he
had never before felt so close to a girl as he did to this one.
Moreover, for the first time he felt master of the situation. It was
his business to put their guest at her ease. That was what Clay had
told him to do before he left.
"You're the doctor, ma'am. You'll eat where you say."
"I--I don't like to be so much bother to you," she said again. "Maybe
I can go away this afternoon."
"No, ma'am, we won't have that a-tall," broke in the range-rider in
alarm. "We're plumb tickled to have you here. Clay he feels thataway
too."
"I could keep house for you while I stay," she suggested timidly. "I
know how to cook--and the place does need cleaning."
"Sure it does. Say, wha's the matter with you bein' Clay's sister,
jes' got in last night on the train? Tha's the story we'll put up to
the landlord if you'll gimme the word."
"I never had a brother, but if I'd had one I'd 'a' wanted him to be
like Mr. Lindsay," she told his friend.
"Say, ain't he a go-getter?" cried Johnnie eagerly. "Clay's sure one
straight-up son-of-a-gun. You'd ought to 'a' seen how he busted New
York open to find you."
"Did he?"
Johnnie told the story of the search with special emphasis on the night
Clay broke into three houses in answer to her advertisement.
"I never wrote it.
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