Веснянки
Chapter VII
TheBossscarcelycouldbelievehissenses.Also,hewasmuchdisappointed.
“Ihavebeenalmostprayingallthewayover,Freckles,”hesaid,“thatyouwouldhavesomeevidencebywhichwecouldarrestthosefellowsandgetthemoutofourway,butthiswillneverdo.Wecan’tmixupthosewomeninit.Theyhavehelpedyousavemethetreeandmywageraswell.Goingacrossthecountryasshedoes,theBirdWomannevercouldbeexpectedtotestifyagainstthem.”
“No,indeed;northeAngel,either,sir,”saidFreckles.
“TheAngel?”queriedtheastonishedMcLean.
TheBosslistenedinsilencewhileFrecklestoldofthecomingandchristeningoftheAngel.
“Iknowherfatherwell,”saidMcLeanatlast,“andIhaveoftenseenher.Youareright;sheisabeautifulyounggirl,andsheappearstobeutterlyfreefromtheleastparticleoffalseprideorfoolishness.Idonotunderstandwhyherfatherriskssuchajewelinthisplace.”
“He’sdaringitbecausesheisajewel,sir,”saidFreckles,eagerly.“Why,she’strustingarattlesnaketorattlebeforeitstrikesher,andofcourse,shethinksshecantrustmankindaswell.Themanisn’tmadewhowouldn’tlaydownthelifeofhimforher.Shedoesn’tneedanycare.Herfaceandtheprettywaysofherarealltheprotectionshewouldneedinabandofhowlingsavages.”
“Didyousayshehandledoneoftherevolvers?”askedMcLean.
“Shescaredallthebreathoutofmebody,”admittedFreckles.“Seemsthatherfatherhastaughthertoshoot.
