The broad backs of ten thousand cattle glistened in the sun as they fed inside the John Burt ranch, but owing to his seedy appearance their owner was frequently mistaken for his own hired man. Self-centred, of narrow views, strong prejudices, saving to penuriousness, whatever there was of sentiment, or warm human impulse, in his nature, seemed to have been buried with Bruce's mother. He had not re-married, but this was the only outward evidence by which any one could know that the memory of "his Annie" was as green as the day she died. He never spoke of her nor of his son, and Burt's life seemed to have for its aim the piling up of dollars faster than his neighbors.
Helen grasped something of his character in her swift appraisement. As she returned his impersonal gaze she realized that to him she was simply a female--a person in petticoats who was going to take up his time and bore him until he could get rid of her. She was not accustomed to a reception of this kind; it disconcerted her, but chiefly the magnitude of her task loomed before her.
The sudden, unexpected fear of failure threw her into a panic. The feeling which came upon her was like stage-fright. In the first awkward moment she could scarcely remember why she had come, much less what she had intended to say. But he was too indifferent to notice her confusion and this helped her somewhat to recover her presence of mind.
When she mentioned the distance she had travelled to see him he was entirely unimpressed and it was not until she mentioned Bruce's name that he appeared to realize that she was not an agent trying to sell him a book. Then Helen saw in his eyes his mental start;--the look of resignation vanished and his black brows, so like Bruce's, contracted in a frown.
"He's alive then," Burt's voice was hard.
Helen nodded.
"I've come to see you on his behalf."
"Oh, he's in trouble." His voice had an acid edge. "He wants me to help him out."
"In trouble--yes--but I'm not sure he'd forgive me if he knew I had come."
"Still sore, is he?" His features stiffened.
"Not sore," Helen pleaded, "but--proud."
"Stubborn"--curtly--"mulish. But why should you come to me?"
"Why shouldn't I? You're his father and he needs a helping hand just now more perhaps than he ever will again."
"Being his father is no reason, that I can see. He's never written me a line."
"And you've never tried to find him," Helen retorted.
"He had a good home and he ran away. He was fourteen--old enough to know what he was doing."