第74章

chances.I tell you, honest, I'm scart of old Colton, in a way, and I ain't scart of many folks.He's a fighter and he's smart.

He and I have had some talks--"

"You have?" I interrupted.

"Yup.Lively squabbles they was, too.Each of us expressin' our opinion of t'other and not holdin' back anything to speak of.Idon't know how he felt when we quit, but I know I respected him--for his out and open cussedness and grit, if nothin' else.And Ithink he felt the same way about me.But he's smart--consarn him, he is! And HE never backs water.That's why I think you're takin'

chances in bein' too friendly with him.He's layin' low and, if you get off your guard just once he'll grab."I hesitated; then I made up my mind.

"Captain Dean," I said, "his smartness hasn't caught me yet.I'm going to tell you something, but first you must promise not to tell anyone else."He promised and I told him of Mr.Keene and the Bay Shore Company.

He listened, interrupting with chuckles and exclamations.When Ihad finished he seized my hand and wrung it.

"By the everlastin'!" he exclaimed, "that was great! I say again, you're all right, Ros Paine.Even _I_ swallered that Development Company, hook, line, and sinker.But YOU saw through it!""I tell you this," I said, "so that you will understand I have no intention of backing water.""I know you ain't.Knew it afore and now I know it better.But Ican't understand what the Colton game is--and there is a game, sure.That daughter of his, now--she may be in it or she may not.

She's pretty and I will give in that she's folksy and sociable with us natives; it's surprisin', considerin' her bringin' up.Nellie and Matildy like her, Nellie especial.They're real chummy, as you might say.Talk and talk, just as easy and common as you and Ithis minute.I've heard 'em two or three times at my house when they thought I wasn't listenin' and twice out of the three they was talkin' about you.""About ME?" I repeated.

"Yes.I don't wonder you're surprised.I was myself.Asked Nellie about it and she just laughed.Said you was the principal object of interest in town just now, which is more or less true.

But it makes me suspicious, all the same.Why should a girl like that Colton one talk about a feller like you? You're as fur apart, fur's anything in common is concerned, as molasses is from vinegar.

Ain't that so?"

It was so, of course, but he need not have been so brutally frank in telling me.However, I nodded and admitted that he was right.

"Yes," he said."A blind horse could see there was no sensible, open and above-board reason for HER bein' interested in YOU.So there's another reason, the way I look at it, and that's why I'd be mighty careful, mighty careful, Ros.Her pa's got a new trick up his sleeve and she's helpin' him play it, that's my notion.So be careful, won't you.""I'll be careful," said I.I knew, as well as I knew my real name--which he did not--that Mabel Colton was not helping her father play any tricks.I had seen enough of her to be certain she was not tricky.And, besides, if she were in sympathy with her parent, why had she given me the hint which put me on the trail of the Development Company? Why had she given me the hint at all? That was the real riddle, and I had not, as yet, hit upon a plausible answer.Those I had hit upon were ridiculous and impossible, and Iput them from my mind.But she was not tricky, that I knew.

Captain Jed changed the subject and we talked of Nellie's wedding, which was to take place in a month.The captain was full of various emotions, regret at losing his daughter and joy because of her getting such a good husband.His last words were these:

"Ros," he said, "be careful, for my sake full as much as yours.

This Lane business and Nellie's gettin' married have sort of possessed me, same as the evil spirits did the swine, in scriptur'.

I lay awake nights fussin' for fear the marriage won't turn out happy or for fear you'll sell the Lane after all.And one's just as likely to happen as t'other--which means they're both impossible, I cal'late.But look out for that Colton girl, whatever else you do.She's a good deal better lookin' than her dad, but she's just as dangerous.You mark my words, son, the feller that plays with fire takes chances.So don't be TOO sociable with any of the tribe."And the very next afternoon the dangerous person herself called and she and I spent an hour in Mother's room, where the three of us chatted like old friends.She had the rare power of making one forget self and personal worries and I could readily understand why Mother had been so completely won by her.She was bright and cheery and sympathetic.Here there was no trace of the pride of class and the arrogance which had caused me to hate her so heartily at first.It seemed almost as if she had set herself the task of making me like her in spite of my prejudices.My reason told me that this could not be; it was merely her fancy for Mother which caused her to notice me at all; she had as much as said so more than once.But I did like her; I acknowledged it in my thoughts;and, after she had gone, the room, with its drawn shades, seemed doubly dark and gloomy.Mother was silent for a few minutes and I, too, said nothing.Then:

"She is a wonderful girl, isn't she, Roscoe," said Mother.

She was altogether too wonderful, that was the trouble.A girl like her had no place in our lives.I went out for a walk and a smoke by the bluff edge; and, almost before I knew it, I found myself standing at the border of the grove, looking at the great house and trying to guess which was her room and if she was there and of what or whom she might be thinking just then."Mark my words, son," Captain Jed had declared, "the feller that plays with fire takes chances."I turned on my heel and set out for home.I would take no chances.

I must not play with fire, even though the flames had, for the moment, dazzled me.I had called myself a fool many times in the past few years, but I would not be so great a fool as that.