The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail Part 20

"Keep her a-viewin' the scenery, Doc, a bit," continued Billy under his breath.

"Oh, get a move on, Billy! What are you monkeying about?" said the doctor quite crossly. He was anxious to escape from a position that had become intolerable to him. For months he had been looking forward to this meeting and now he had bungled it. In the first place he had begun by not knowing the girl who for three years and more had been in his dreams day and night, then he had carried himself like a schoolboy in her presence, and lastly had frightened her almost to death by his clumsy announcement of her brother's accident. The young lady at his side, with the quick intuition of her Celtic nature, felt his mood, and, not knowing the cause, became politely distant.

On their walk to the hotel Dr. Martin pointed out the wonderful pearly gray light stealing across the plain and beginning to brighten on the tops of the rampart hills that surrounded the town.

"You will see the Rockies in an hour, Miss Cameron, in the far west there," he said. But there was no enthusiasm in his voice.

"Ah, yes, how beautiful!" said the young lady. But her tone, too, was lifeless.

Desperately the doctor strove to make conversation during their short walk and with infinite relief did he welcome the appearance of Mandy at her bedroom door waiting their approach.

"Your brother's wife, Miss Cameron," said he.

For a single moment they stood searching each other's souls. Then by some secret intuition known only to the female mind they reached a conclusion, an entirely satisfactory conclusion, too, for at once they were in each other's arms.

"You are Moira?" cried Mandy.

"Yes," said the girl in an eager, tremulous voice. "And my brother? Is he well?"

"Well? Of course he is--perfectly fine. He is sleeping now. We will not wake him. He has had none too good a night."

"No, no," cried Moira, "don't wake him. Oh, I am so glad. You see, I was afraid."

"Afraid? Why were you afraid?" inquired Mandy, looking indignantly at the doctor, who stood back, a picture of self condemnation.

"Yes, yes, Mrs. Cameron, blame me. I deserve it all. I bungled the whole thing this morning and frightened Miss Cameron nearly into a fit, for no other reason than that I am all a.s.s. Now I shall retire. Pray deal gently with me. Good-by!" he added abruptly, lifted his hat and was gone.

"What's the matter with him?" said Mandy, looking at her sister-in-law.

"I do not know, I am sure," replied Moira indifferently. "Is there anything the matter?"

"He is not like himself a bit. But come, my dear, take off your things.

As the doctor says, a sleep for a couple of hours will do you good.

After that you will see Allan. You are looking very weary, dear, and no wonder, no wonder," said Mandy, "with all that journey and--and all you have gone through." She gathered the girl into her strong arms. "My, I could just pick you up like a babe!" She held her close and kissed her.

The caressing touch was too much for the girl. With a rush the tears came.

"Och, oh," she cried, lapsing into her Highland speech, "it iss ashamed of myself I am, but no one has done that to me for many a day since--since--my father--"

"There, there, you poor darling," said Mandy, comforting her as if she were a child, "you will not want for love here in this country. Cry away, it will do you good." There was a sound of feet on the stairs.

"Hush, hush, Billy is coming." She swept the girl into her bedroom as Billy appeared.

"Oh, I am just silly," said Moira impatiently, as she wiped her eyes.

"But you are so good, and I will never be forgetting your kindness to me this day."

"Hot water," said Billy, tapping at the door.

"Hot water! What for?" cried Mandy.

"For the young lady. The doctor said she was used to it."

"The doctor? Well, that is very thoughtful. Do you want hot water, Moira?"

"Yes, the very thing I do want to get the dust out of my eyes and the grime off my face."

"And the tea is in the ladies' parlor," added Billy.

"Tea!" cried Mandy, "the very thing!"

"The doctor said tea and toast."

"The doctor again!"

"Sure thing! Said they were all stuck on tea in the Old Country."

"Oh, he did, eh? Will you have tea, Moira?"

"No tea, thank you. I shall lie down, I think, for a little."

"All right, dear, we will see you at breakfast. Don't worry. I shall call you."

Again she kissed the girl and left her to sleep. She found Billy standing in the ladies' parlor with a perplexed and disappointed look on his face.

"The Doc said she'd sure want some tea," he said.

"And you made the tea yourself?" inquired Mandy.

"Sure thing! The Doc--"

"Well, Billy, I'd just love a cup of tea if you don't mind wasting it on me."

"Sure thing, ma'm! The Doc won't mind, bein' as she turned it down."

"Where is Dr. Martin gone, Billy? He needs a cup of tea; he's been up all night. He must be feeling tough."

"Judgin' by his langwidge I should surmise yes," said Billy judicially.

"Would you get him, Billy, and bring him here?"

"Get him? S'pose I could. But as to bringin' him here, I'd prefer wild cats myself. The last I seen of him he was hikin' for the Rockies with a blue haze round his hair."

"But what in the world is wrong with him, Billy?" said Mandy anxiously.

"I've never seen him this way."

"No, nor me," said Billy. "The Doc's a pretty level headed cuss. There's somethin' workin' on him, if you ask me."

"Billy, you get him and tell him we want to see him at breakfast, will you?"

Billy shook his head.