He went in to breakfast and watched Betty covertly during the meal. She
was trying to appear unconcerned, but it was plain to see that her
unconcern was too deep to be genuine, and it moved Calumet to malevolent
sarcasm.
"Nothin' is botherin' you this mornin', I reckon?" he said to her once
when he caught her looking at him. "Clear conscience, eh?" he added as
she flushed.
"What should bother me?" she asked, looking straight at him.
"I was thinkin' that mebbe the racket I was makin' tryin' to kill that
snake might have bothered--"
To his surprise, she pressed her lips tightly together, and he could see
mirth in her eyes--mocking mirth.
"You are talking in riddles," she said quietly.
So then she was going to deny it? Wrath rose in him.
"Riddles, eh?" he said. "Well, riddles--"
"That reptile was sure botherin' you a heap," cut in Dade; and Calumet
shot a quick glance at him, wondering whether he, also, was a party to
the plot to "string" him.
He thought he detected gratitude in Betty's eyes as she smiled at Dade,
but he was not certain. He said no more on the subject--then. But
shortly after the conclusion of the meal he contrived to come upon Betty
outside the house. She was hanging a dish towel from a line that
stretched from a corner of the porch to the stable.
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