"Well?"
The bitterness of that frigid, surprised inquiry was crushing. Elvine
looked into his eyes for one single shadow of softening. She could
find none. It shocked the hope she had been steadily building in her
heart.
She had no words in which to answer. She stood thus for one uncertain
moment. Then she thrust out her hand. It contained the threatening
message.
"Will you read that--at once?"
His cold regard dropped from her face. The man noted the dirty paper
in her soft white hand. Then he took it. Nor did their hands come
into contact.
"Is it a matter of importance?"
Elvine could have cried out with the stab of the question. Only some
matter of vital importance justified her action in his eyes. Her gaze
was averted to hide her pain.
"I should not have come to you otherwise."
The man moved to the edge of the veranda to obtain more of the dying
light. At that moment the ranchman approached with two saddle horses.
Elvine scrutinized him carefully. He was a complete stranger to her.
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