"I came up last night to see Ed Smith about running his flume under
Horse Creek bridge. They cross us, you know, in the cañon there," said
he, in his slow, steady way. "Just as we got on the ponies to ride
down, this slide occurred----"
"Glad you couldn't get away. We want to see Ed Smith," returned Bucks,
getting down. The women were already greeting Glover, and avoiding
Gertrude's eye while he included her in his salutation to all, he tried
to answer several questions at once. Smith, the engineer in charge of
the canal, was talking with Bucks and Mr. Brock. On top of the stage
Doctor Lanning was trying to persuade Gertrude not to get down; but she
insisted.
"Mr. Glover will help me, I am sure," she said, looking directly at the
evading Glover, who was absorbed in his talk with her sister. "I
should advise you not to alight, Miss Brock," said he, unable to ignore
her request. "You will sink into this dusty clay----"
"I don't mind that, but unless you will give me your hand," she
interrupted, putting her boot on the foot rest to descend, "I shall
certainly break my neck." When he promptly advanced she took both of
his offered hands with a laugh at her recklessness and dropped lightly
beside him. "May I go over where you stood?" she asked at once.
"I shouldn't," he ventured.
"But I can't see what they are doing." She walked capriciously ahead,
and Glover reluctantly followed. "Why shouldn't you?" she questioned,
waiting for him to come to her side.
"It isn't safe."
"Why did you stand there?"
He answered with entire composure. "What would be perfectly safe for
me might be very dangerous for you."
She looked full at him. "How truly you speak."
Yet she did not stop, though at each step her feet sunk into the
loosened soil.
"Pray, don't go farther," said Glover.
"I want to see the men digging."
"Then won't you come around here?"
"But may I not walk over to that car?"
"This way is more passable."
"Then why did you make the driver turn away from that side?"
"You have good eyes, Miss Brock."
"Pray, what is the matter with that man lying behind the car?"
Glover looked fairly at her at last. "A shoveller was hurt when the
gravel slipped a few minutes ago. When the warning came he did not
understand and got caught."
"Oh, let us get Doctor Lanning; something can be done for him."
"No. It is too late."
Horror checked her. "Dead?"
"Yes. I did not want you to know this. Your sister is easily
shocked----"
She paused a moment. "You are very thoughtful of Marie. Have you a
sister?"
"I haven't. Why do you ask?"