I thought you was Conniston!" He stood back at last.
"Johnny--Johnny Keith!"
"Andy, you blessed old devil!"
They pumped hands again, pounded shoulders until they were sore, and in
Keith's face blazed once more the love of life.
Suddenly old Duggan grew rigid and sniffed the air. "I smell bacon!"
"It's in the pack, Andy. But for Heaven's sake don't notice the bacon
until you explain how you happen to be here."
"Been waitin' for you," replied Duggan in an affectionate growl. "Knew
you'd have to come down this valley to hit the Little Fork. Been
waitin' six weeks."
Keith dug his fingers into Duggan's arm.
"How did you know I was coming HERE?" he demanded. "Who told you?"
"All come out in the wash, Johnny. Pretty mess. Chinaman dead. Johnny
Keith, alias Conniston, alive an' living with Conniston's pretty
sister. Johnny gone--skipped. No one knew where. I made guesses. Knew
the girl would know if anyone did. I went to her, told her how you'n me
had been pals, an' she give me the idee you was goin' up to the river's
end. I resigned from the Betty M., that night. Told her, though, that
she was a ninny if she thought you'd go up there. Made her believe the
note was just a blind.
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