Miriam herself opened the door and snatched Barbara within, and
then laughed with her consummate impudence into both men's faces.
"G'lang wid ye's now," she flung at them, "an' quit disturbin' dacint
folks that likes to sleep o' nights!"
She slammed the door upon them.
They stood there a second or two, Wickersham an inch or more taller and
inches narrower in shoulder and girth of chest. Perfunctorily they
nodded, each to the other, and wheeled silently upon their heels.
Steve did not respond the next morning when Joe summoned the rest with
a long spoon applied heartily to the flat of a huge tin basin; and over
the breakfast table Joe explained to the assembled guests the reason
for his absence. Before daybreak a rider had come from Morrison,
bearing word from Hardwick Elliott that Ainnesley was on from Manhattan
and wanted to talk with him; before the camp was fairly awake he had
ridden away into the south. And returning two days later, travelling
the lower, lesser trails that followed the river, in order to save
time, Steve missed her party going out. So, in the last moment, after
days and days of patient waiting, did Chance trick him sadly.
How much or how little Wickersham might have overseen the night before
he betrayed not at all at breakfast the next morning, either by word or
look. And throughout that day, and the day that followed, while she
rode at his side, undetermined whether she should attempt an
explanation, Barbara found his face inscrutable.
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