I gave you a little surprise last night?"
Winston nodded. "You did. Of course, I knew how much your promise was
worth, but in view of the risks you ran, I had not expected you to turn
up at the Grange."
"The risks!" said Courthorne, with an unpleasant smile.
"Yes," said Winston wearily, "I have a good deal on hand I would like
to finish here and it will not take me long, but I am quite prepared to
give myself up now, if it is necessary."
Courthorne laughed. "I don't think you need, and it wouldn't be wise.
You see, even if you made out your innocence, which you couldn't do,
you rendered yourself an accessory by not denouncing me long ago. I
fancy we can come to an understanding which would be pleasanter to both
of us."
"The difficulty," said Winston, "is that an understanding is useless
when made with a man who never keeps his word."
"Well," said Courthorne dryly, "we shall gain nothing by paying each
other compliments, and whether you believe it or otherwise, it was not
by intention I turned up at the Grange. I was coming here from a place
west of the settlement, and you can see that I have been ill if you
look at me. I counted too much on my strength, couldn't find a
homestead where I could get anything to eat, and the rest may be
accounted for by the execrable brandy I had with me. Any way, the
horse threw me and made off, and after lying under some willows a good
deal of the day, I dragged myself along until I saw a house.
Pages:
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291