ned to look back. But just
before he disappeared finally they saw him sweep his hat from his head.
It was a derisive motion, and Miss Radford colored and shot a furtive
glance at Ferguson.

The latter stood loosely beside her, his hat brim pulled well down over
his forehead. As she looked she saw his eyes narrow and his lips curve
ironically.

"What do you suppose he thought?" she questioned, her eyes drooping
away from his.

"Him?" Ferguson laughed. "I expect you could see from his actions
that he wasn't a heap tickled." Some thought was moving him mightily.
He chuckled gleefully. "Now if you could only put what he was thinkin'
into your book, ma'am, it sure would make interestin' readin'."

"But he saw you holding my hand!" she declared, aware of the
uselessness of telling him this, but unable to repress her indignation
over the thought that Leviatt had seen.

"Why, I expect he did, ma'am!" he returned, trying hard to keep the
pleasure out of his voice. "You see, he must have been lookin' right
at us. But there ain't nothin' to be flustered over. I reckon that
some day, if he's around, he'll see me holdin' your hand again."

The red in her cheeks deepened. "Why, how conceited you are!" she
said, trying to be very severe, but only succeeding in making him think
that her eyes were prettier than he had thought.

"I don't think I am conceited, ma'am," he returned, smiling. "I've
liked you right well since the beginning. I don't think it's conceit
to tell a lady that you're thinkin' of holdin' her hand."

She was looking straight at him, trying to be very defiant. "And so
you have liked me?" she taunted. "I am considering whether to tell you
that I was not thinking of you as a possible admirer."

His eyes flashed. "I don't think you mean that, ma'am," he said. "You
ain't treated me like you treated some others."

"Some others?" she questioned, not comprehending.

He laughed. "Them other Two Diamond men that took a shine to you.
I've heard that you talked right sassy to them. But you ain't never
been sassy to me. Leastways, you ain't never told me to 'evaporate'."

She was suddenly convulsed. "They have told you that?" she questioned.
And then not waiting for an answer she continued more soberly: "And so
you thought that in view of what I have said to those men you had been
treated comparatively civilly. I am afraid I have underestimated you.
Hereafter I shall talk less intimately to you."