The three men set off, Phelps and Annixter on horseback, Presley on his bicycle.
When they had gone, Mrs.Derrick sought out her husband in the office of the ranch house.

She was at her prettiest that morning, her cheeks flushed with excitement, her innocent, wide-open eyes almost girlish.
She had fastened her hair, still moist, with a black ribbon tied at the back of her head, and the soft mass of light brown reached to below her waist, making her look very young.
"What was it he was saying to you just now," she exclaimed, as she came through the gate in the green-painted wire railing of the office.

"What was Mr.Annixter saying?
I know.

He was trying to get you to join him, trying to persuade you to be dishonest, wasn't that it?
Tell me, Magnus, wasn't that it ?" Magnus nodded.
His wife drew close to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"But you won't, will you?
You won't listen to him again; you won't so much as allow him--anybody--to even suppose you would lend yourself to bribery?
Oh, Magnus, I don't know what has come over you these last few weeks.

Why, before this, you would have been insulted if any one thought you would even consider anything like dishonesty.