ts wagged his head slowly. "Mebbe so; mebbe not."

"Because, if she doesn't," Bethune hastened to add, "she should be
told. Rod Sinclair was one of the best friends I had, and if he has
gone I'm right here to see that his daughter gets a square deal. Of
course if she has the location, she's all right." Patty wondered
whether the man had purposely raised his voice, or was it her
imagination?

Ma Watts had started for the door. "Come on out, honey, an' I'll make
yo' acquainted with Mr. Bethune. He wus a friend of yo' pa, an' Lord
too." As she followed the woman to the door, the girl was conscious of
an indefinable feeling of distrust for the man. Somehow, his words had
not rung true.

As the two women stepped from the house the horsemen swung from their
saddles and stood with uncovered heads.

"This yere's Mr. Sinclair's darter, Mr. Bethune," beamed Ma Watts.
"An' I'd take hit proud ef yo'd all stay to dinner."

"Ah, Miss Sinclair, I am most happy to know you. Permit me to present
my friend Lord Clendenning."

The Englishman bowed low. "The prefix is merely a euphonism Miss
Sinclair. What you really behold in me is the decayed part of a
decaying aristocracy."

Patty laughed. "My goodness, what frankness!"

"Come on, now, an' set by 'fore the vittles gits cold on us. Yere yo'
Horatius Ezek'l an' David Golieth, yo' hay them hosses!"

"No, no! Really, Mrs. Watts, we must not presume on your hospitality.
Important business demands our presence elsewhere."

"Lawzie, Mr. Bethune, there yo' go with them big words agin. Which I
s'pose yo' mean yo' cain't stay. But they's a plenty, an' yo'
welcome." Again Bethune declined and as the woman re-entered the
house, he turned to the girl.

"I only just learned of your father's untimely death. Permit me to
express my sincerest sympathy, and to assure you that if I can be of
service to you in any way I am yours to command."

"Thank you," answered Patty, flushing slightly under the scrutiny of
the black eyes. "I am here to locate my father's claim. I want to do
it alone, but if I can't I shall certainly ask assistance of his
friends."

"Exactly. But, my dear Miss Sinclair, let me warn you. There are men
in these hills who suspected that your father made a strike, who would
stop at nothing to wrest your secret from you." The girl nodded. "I
suppose so. But forewarned is forearmed, isn't it? I thank you."

"Thet Vil Holland wus by yeste'day," said Watts.

Bethune frowned.