But such natures as his were quite foreign to her. She merely instinctively disliked him.
"What do you mean?" she asked unsuspiciously.
Beasley was serious again, and wore an air of deprecation when he answered her.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, "'tain't nuthin'. Y' see folks are always most ready to gas around. It's 'bout them two boys. They're hot about 'em. Y' see Pete was a mighty popular feller, an' Ike had good friends. Y' see they were always good spenders--an' most folks like good spenders. But ther'--'tain't nuthin' that needs tellin' you. Guess it'll only make a dandy gal like you feel mean."
The man's purpose must have been evident to anybody less simple than Joan. As it was she jumped at the bait so skilfully held out.
"But you must tell me," she said, remembering Mrs. Ransford's remarks. "I insist on knowing if it is anything concerning me."
Beasley's air was perfect. His eyes were as frankly regretful as he could make them.
"Wal," he said, "it certainly does concern you--but I'd rather not say it."
"Go on."
Joan's face was coldly haughty.
"I wouldn't take it too mean," said Beasley warningly. "I sure wouldn't. You see folks say a heap o' things that is trash. They guess it's your doin' 'bout them boys. They reckon you played 'em one ag'in t'other for their wads, an' both o' them ag'in--Buck. Y' see--mind I'm jest tellin' you cos you asked--they guess you ast 'em both to supper that evenin'. Pete said he was ast, an' Ike let on the same. You ast 'em both for the fun of the racket. An' you had Buck around to watch the fun. Yes, they're pretty hot. An' you can't blame 'em, believin' as they do. One of 'em--I forget who it rightly was--he called you the camp Jonah. Said just as long as you wer' around ther'd be trouble. He was all for askin' you to clear right out. He said more than that, but I don't guess you need to know it all."
"But I do need to know it all. I need to know all they said, and--who said it."
Joan's eyes were blazing. Beasley made no attempt to conceal his satisfaction, and went on at once-"Course I can't give you names. But the facts I don't guess I'm likely to forget--they made me so riled. They said that farm of yours was just a blind. It--it was--well, you'd come along here for all you could get--an' that----"
Joan cut him short.
"That's enough," she cried. "You needn't tell me any more. I--I understand. Oh, the brutal, heartless ruffians! Tell me. Who was it said these things? I demand to know. I insist on the names. Oh!"