heaps of mendin', as the digger squaw and Chinamen we have here do only
the coarser work. I'll send it back to you, and meanwhiles you keep
mine."
She drew a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him. To his
great surprise it was a delicate one, beautifully embroidered, and
utterly incongruous to her station. The idea that flashed upon him,
it is to be feared, showed itself momentarily in his hesitation and
embarrassment.
She gave a quick laugh. "Don't be frightened. It's bought and paid for.
Uncle Harry don't touch passengers' fixin's; that ain't his style.
You oughter know that." Yet in spite of her laugh, he could see the
sensitive pout of her lower lip.
"I was only thinking," he said hurriedly and sympathetically, "that it
was too fine for me. But I will be proud to keep it as a souvenir of
you. It's not too pretty for THAT!"
"Uncle gets me these things. He don't keer what they cost," she went on,
ignoring the compliment. "Why, I've got awfully fine gowns up there that
I only wear when I go to Marysville oncet in a while."
"Does he take you there?" asked Brice.
"No!" she answered quietly. "Not"--a little defiantly--"that he's
afeard, for they can't prove anything against him; no man kin swear to
him, and thar ain't an officer that keers to go for him. But he's that
shy for ME he don't keer to have me mixed with him."
"But nobody recognizes you?"
"Sometimes--but I don't keer for that." She cocked her hat a little
audaciously, but Brice noticed that her arms afterwards dropped at her
side with the same weary gesture he had observed before. "Whenever I go
into shops it's always 'Yes, miss,' and 'No, miss,' and 'Certainly,
Miss Dimwood.' Oh, they're mighty respectful. I reckon they allow that
Snapshot Harry's rifle carries far."
Presently she faced him again, for their conversation had been carried
on in profile. There was a critical, searching look in her brown eyes.
"Here I'm talkin' to you as if you were one"--Mr. Brice was positive
she was going to say "one of the gang," but she hesitated and concluded,
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