human
I scarcely expected you quite so soon, Saxton, he said.
gpt
Here are cigars; you'll find some drinkables in the box yonder.
human
I've no great use for California wine. Bourbon whisky's good enough for me, he said.
gpt
Who've you been entertaining? Not Devine, anyway.
human
Isn't the question a little outside the mark? If you want it, there's water with ice in it here. It's from the tail of the glacier.
gpt
Then it would take a man 'most an hour and a half to bring a pail of it. It's quite easy to tell where you came from. Well, I'm here; but on the other occasions it was I who sent for you.
human
There is, however, a difference on this one, though I wouldn't like you to think that was the reason. The fact is, I've been busy.
gpt
Well, said Saxton,
human
Are you sure you don't know?
gpt
Quite! and Saxton's sincerity was evident.
human
How should I?
gpt
I had fancied you knew all about it by this time, and felt a little astonished that you didn't come over, but I see I was mistaken. I tried to get hold of Devine's papers, as I promised you, and came upon another man attempting the same thing. During the difference of opinion that followed he shot me.
human
To be quite straight, I put another man on to it, as you didn't seem to be making much of a show, he said.
gpt
Still, what in the name of thunder did he want to shoot you for, when he knew you were standing in with me?
human
I can't say. The difficulty was that I was not as well informed as he seems to have been. It would have paid you better to be frank with me. Hasn't the man come back to you?
gpt
No, and Saxton's face grew a trifle vicious,
human
No, he said, drily,
gpt
I don't think there are. You and the other man make two, while I scarcely fancy either of you will get hold of the papers, because I gave them back to Devine, and he has sent them to Vancouver.
human
You had them?
gpt
I certainly had, said Brooke.
human
They were put up in a very flimsy packet, which Mrs. Devine handed me. I did not, however, look at one of them.
gpt
Well, he said,
human
I really don't think you would appreciate my motives, especially as I'm not quite sure I understand them myself. Anyway, I did it, and that, of course, implies that there can be no further understanding between you and me. I don't mean to question the morality of what we purposed doing, but, to be quite frank, I've had enough of it.
gpt
No doubt I could worry along 'most as well without you, but there's a question to be answered, he said, drily.
human
Do you mean to give me away?
gpt
It's not one I appreciate, and it seems to me a trifle unnecessary. You can reassure yourself on that point.
human
Well, he said, meditatively,
gpt
I guess I can trust you, and I'm not going to worry about letting you off the deal. You have too many fancies to be of much use to anybody. There's just another thing, and it has to be said. It's business I have on hand, and life's too short for any man to waste time he could pile up dollars in, trying to get even with a partner who has gone back on him. In fact, I've a kind of liking for you--but you'll most certainly get hurt if you put yourself in my way. It's a friendly warning.
human
I will endeavor to keep out of it, so far as I can.
gpt
Miss Heathcote's kind of pretty,
human
I suggested once already that we should get on better if you left Miss Heathcote out.
gpt
You did. Still, when I've anything to say, it is scarcely a hint of that kind that's going to stop me. I guess you know she has quite a pile of dollars?
human
I don't, and it does not concern me in the least.
gpt
She has, anyway. Devine's wife brought him a pile, and I heard one sister had the same as the other. Now, you ought to feel obliged to me.
human
I don't wish to be unpleasant, but you have gone quite as far as is advisable. Can't you see the thing you are suggesting is quite out of the question?
gpt
Well, he said, reflectively,
human
I have seen better-looking men--quite a few of them, and you're blame hard to get on with, but there are women who don't expect too much.
gpt
You will, of course, believe what pleases you, he said.
human
Are you going to stay here to-night?
gpt
No, said Saxton.
human
When I'm through with this whisky, I'm going right back to Tomlinson's ranch. I wouldn't like Devine to run up against me, and he nearly did it on the trail a little while ago.
gpt
He recognized you?
human
No, said Saxton, drily.
gpt
He didn't. It wouldn't have suited me. When I come to clinch with Devine, I want to be sure I have the whip-hand of him. Still, it wouldn't have been a case of pistols out and getting behind a tree. It's quite a long while since I had any, and, though you don't seem to think so in England, nobody has any use for a circus of that kind now. I don't know that the way they had in '49 wasn't better than trying to get ahead of the other man quietly.