"
And so she jumped down from the log and left him.
CHAPTER XVI
TERRY DEFIES BLENHAM
Blenham must have ridden late into the night. For at a very early hour
the next morning he was at the Big Bend ranch fifty miles to the north
and reporting to his employer. Early as it was, the old man had
breakfasted, and now the wide black hat far back on his head, the spurs
on his big boots, bespoke his readiness to be riding.
At times he stood stock-still, his hands on his hips, staring down at
Blenham's lesser stature; at other times and in a deep, thoughtful
silence he strode back and forth in the great barn-like library, his
spurs jingling.
"Why, burn it, man," he exploded once during the fore part of the
interview, "the boy is a Packard! I'm proud of him. We're going to
make a real man out of Stephen yet. Haven't I said the words a dozen
times: 'Break a fool an' make a man!' I'm tellin' you, the las'
Packard to be spoiled by havin' too much easy money has lived an' died.
All we got to do with Stephen is put him on foot; set him down in the
good ol'-fashioned dirt where he's got to work for what he gets, an'
he'll come through. Same as I did. Yessir!"
Blenham waited for his signal to continue his report, and when he got
it, a look and a nod, he resumed, face, voice, and eye alike
expressionless of any personal interest in the matter.
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