Because Dick had always lived a clean, outdoor life he rallied magnificently from the relapse into which his indiscretion had thrown him. For a few days Dr. Watson was worried by reason of the danger of blood-poisoning, but the splendid vitality of his patient quickly swept him out of danger. Soon he was hobbling round with a cane, and shortly after was able to take long rides over the country with his friend.
On one of these occasions, while they were climbing a hill trail, Davis broke a long silence to say aloud to himself: "There's just one way to account for it."
"Then it can't be a woman you're thinking of," Dick laughed; "for as far as I can make out there's always several ways to account for them, and the one you guess usually ain't right."
"You've said it, son. It's a woman. I been doing some inquiring about this Miss Valdés, and from all telling she's the prettiest ever."
"I could have told you that. It ain't a secret."
"I notice you didn't tell me."
"You didn't ask, you old geezer."
"Sho! You ain't such a clam when it comes to pretty girls. You didn't talk about her, because your haid's been full of her. It don't take a mind-reader to know that."
"You're ce'tainly a wizard, Steve," came back his partner dryly.
"I know you and your little ways by this time."
"So I'm in love, am I?"
"You're there, or traveling there mighty fast. Course I don't know about the lady."
"What don't you know about her?" asked Dick, who was by way of being both amused and pleased that the subject had been broached.
"How she feels about the proposition. She had you kicked out of the house. That looks kinder as if your show was slim. She did send over right often to see how you was getting along, but I reckon she didn't want to feel responsible for your turning up your toes. Women are that way, even when they hate a man real thorough."
"You're quite an expert. I wonder you know so much about them, and you never married."
To this sarcastic reminder Steve made philosophic reply. "Mebbe it was because I knew so much about them I never married."
"You're surely a wise old rooster. You think she hates me, then?"
Davis covered a grin. He knew from his friend's tone that the barb had pierced the skin.
"Well, looking at it like a reasonable man, there ain't any question about it. Soon as you begin to mend she quits taking any interest in you; don't know you're on the earth any more. A reasonable man----"