19/27 Knowing I had the money, he'd got uneasy when I was late." Harding paused and looked meaningly at his companion. "Later I was asked to believe that the man who went for those two toughs with no weapon but his fists ran away under fire. The thing didn't seem plausible." "And so you trust Blake, in spite of his story ?" "The Northwest is a hard country in winter and I may find myself in a tight place before I've finished my search," Harding answered with grave quietness. "But if that happens, I'll have a partner I can trust my life to. What's more, Mrs.Harding feels I'm safe with him." Mrs.Keith was moved; his respect for his wife's judgment and his faith in his comrade appealed to her. |