Then almost fiercely he
resumed the stripping of the machine.
An hour or two later Dane rode up, and sat still in his saddle looking
down on Winston with a curious smile on his face.
"I was down at the settlement, and found a curious story going round,"
he said. "Of course, it had its humorous aspect, but I don't know that
the thing was quite discreet. You see, Barrington has once or twice
had to put a stern check on the indulgence in playfulness of that kind
by some of the younger men, and you are becoming an influence at
Silverdale."
"You naturally believed what you heard. It was in keeping with what
you have seen of me?"
Dane's eyes twinkled. "I didn't want to, and I must admit that it
isn't. Still, a good many of you quiet men are addicted to
occasionally astonishing your friends, and I can't help a fancy that
you could do that kind of thing as well as most folks, if it pleased
you. In fact, there was an artistic finish to the climax that
suggested your usual thoroughness."
"It did?" said Winston grimly, remembering his recent visitor and one
or two of Courthorne's Albertan escapades. "Still, as I'm afraid I
haven't the dramatic instinct, do you mind telling me how?"
Dane laughed. "Well, it is probable there are other men who would have
kissed the girl, but I don't know that it would have occurred to them
to smash a decanter on the irate lover's head."
Winston felt his fingers tingle for a grip on Courthorne's throat.
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