It's fixed."
For some moments no other word was spoken. There was awkwardness. But
it was with Jeff alone. He feared the result of what he must tell.
"You're--packing?" he said presently.
Bud sat himself heavily into a rocker.
"Yep. Lestways I don't guess Nan 'ud call it that way." He raked his
curly iron-gray hair with his strong fingers, and gazed ruefully at the
chaos.
"Maybe I can help some."
Bud shook his head, and his smile was good.
"Guess one darn fool's enough playin' this game. When're you coming
along to--home?"
"Maybe a week."
The reply was prompt.
"An'--you'll bring her along with you?"
The eyes of the two men met. Each was reading the other like an open
book.
Jeff shook his head. Somehow there was nothing absurd to him in Bud's
suggestion. There was nothing startling even in the probing of his
secret with so much directness.
"I haven't asked her--yet."
Then it was that the big heart of the friend, who was almost a father,
made itself apparent.
"But you're goin' to, Jeff.
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