* * * * *
By the dawn of day Floyd had become so much worse that a trained nurse
was placed at his side, and the physician's verdict, that the boy might
die at any moment, overshadowed the threats of the squatter father.
* * * * *
Lon Cronk had come alone to Everett's office on the hour set. Brimbecomb
wondered vaguely where the other man was, and what was his concern in
the affair.
After greeting Lon coldly, the young lawyer said:
"I should like to know about your life, Mr. Cronk, how long your
children have been away from you, and all about it."
"They've been gone since September," replied Lon. "They runned away from
hum, and I ain't seed 'em till I found out that they was at
Shellington's."
"And how did you discover them?"
"Saw Flea goin' up the steps," lied Cronk. "I knowed her the minute I
see her, in spite of her pretty clothes."
"Then you applied to Mr. Shellington for them?"
"Yep."
"And he refused to deliver them up?"
"Yep--damn him! But I'll take 'em, anyway."
"Don't say that outside my office," warned Everett. "The law does not
want to be threatened."
Lon remained silent.
"We'll have to deal with Mr. Shellington very carefully," cautioned the
lawyer; "for he is proud and stubborn, and has a great liking for your
children. In fact, I think he is quite in love with the girl."
Lon started to his feet, his swart face paling.
"He won't git her!" he muttered. "I've got plans for that gal, and I
ain't goin' have no young buck kickin' 'em over, I kin tell ye that!"
Brimbecomb's words put a new light upon the matter. That Flea would be
protected by the young millionaire Lon knew; but that the young man
thought of marrying her had never come into his mind.
"I don't believe as how he'd marry a squatter girl," he said presently.
"He won't, if I get her once to Ithaca!"
The mention of Brimbecomb's college town and birthplace brought a new
train of thought to the lawyer.
"Have you lived in Ithaca many years?" he demanded.
"Yep."
"The first thing I shall do," said the attorney deliberately, "is to
make a formal demand upon Mr. Shellington in your name, and get his
answer. Please remain in town where I can see you, and if anything comes
up I shall write you."
Lon gave him the address of a man near the river, and Everett allowed
his client to go. Some force within him had almost impelled him to ask
the squatter concerning Screech Owl, and he breathed more freely when he
thought that he had not given way to the temptation to learn something
about his own people.
* * * * *
At eight o'clock that evening Everett met Mr. and Mrs. Brimbecomb at the
station. He could not comprehend the feeling that his foster parents had
become strangers to him. He kissed his mother, shook hands with Mr.
Brimbecomb, and followed them into the carriage.
He went to bed content with the knowledge that their steamer would sail
two days later, and that for six months he would be alone.