Yet
his gaunt face, though terrible in its records of tortures, had
something fine and noble, even beautiful to Belding, in its
strength, its victory.
Thorne and Mercedes had disappeared. The low murmur of voices
came from Mrs. Gale's room, and Belding concluded that Dick was
still with his family. No doubt he, also, would soon seek rest
and sleep. Belding went through the patio and called in at Nell's
door. She was there sitting by her window. The flush of happiness
had not left her face, but she looked stunned, and a shadow of fear
lay dark in her eyes. Belding had intended to talk. He wanted
some one to listen to him. The expression in Nell's eyes, however,
silenced him. He had forgotten. Nell read his thought in his
face, and then she lost all her color and dropped her head. Belding
entered, stood beside her with a hand on hers. He tried desperately
hard to think of the right thing to say, and realized so long as
he tried that he could not speak at all.
"Nell--Dick's back safe and sound," he said, slowly. "That's the
main thing. I wish you could have seen his eyes when he held you
in his arms out there....Of course, Dick's coming knocks out your
trip East and changes plans generally. We haven't had the happiest
time lately. But now it 'll be different. Dick's as true as a
Yaqui. He'll chase that Chase fellow, don't mistake me....Then
mother will be home soon. She'll straighten out this--this mystery.
And Nell--however it turns out--I know Dick Gale will feel just the
same as I feel.
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