There was mystery here,
Calumet felt it and was determined to uncover it. He took up the chair
that he had previously overturned and seated himself on it, facing the
girl.
"Set down," he said, waving a hand toward another chair. In response
to his invitation she moved toward the chair, hesitated when she
reached it, apparently having nearly recovered her composure, though
her face was pale and she watched him covertly, half fearfully. While
she seated herself Calumet got out of his chair and took up the candle,
placing it on the desk beside the pistol. This done, he busied himself
with the rolling of a cigarette, working deliberately, an alert eye on
the girl and her grandfather.
The latter had recovered and was sitting rigid in the chair, fear and
wonder in his eyes as he watched Calumet. To him Calumet spoke when he
had completed the rolling of the cigarette and was holding a flaring
match to it. He took a tigerish amusement from the old man's plight.
"I reckon I come pretty near doin' for you, eh?" he said, grinning.
"Well, there ain't no tellin' when a man will make a mistake." His
gaze left the old man and was directed at the girl. "I reckon we'll
clear things up a bit now, ma'am," he said. "What are you an' your
grand-pap doin' at the Lazy Y?"
"We live here."
"Where's the old coyote which has been callin' himself my dad?"
A sudden change came over the girl; a vindictive satisfaction seemed to
radiate from her.
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