A red-haired child stood at
the gate before the red-brick house and Hale asked her a question.
The little girl had never heard of the Widow Crane. Then he walked
toward his old office and bedroom. There was a voice inside his
old office when he approached, a tall figure filled the doorway, a
pair of great goggles beamed on him like beacon lights in a storm,
and the Hon. Sam Budd's hand and his were clasped over the gate.
"It's all over, Sam."
"Don't you worry--come on in."
The two sat on the porch. Below it the dimpled river shone through
the rhododendrons and with his eyes fixed on it, the Hon. Sam
slowly approached the thought of each.
"The old cabin in Lonesome Cove is just as the Tollivers left it."
"None of them ever come back?" Budd shook his head.
"No, but one's comin'--Dave."
"Dave!"
"Yes, an' you know what for."
"I suppose so," said Hale carelessly. "Did you send old Judd the
deed?"
"Sure--along with that fool condition of yours that June shouldn't
know until he was dead or she married. I've never heard a word."
"Do you suppose he'll stick to the condition?"
"He has stuck," said the Hon.
Pages:
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422