Brandon of the Engineers

"I haven't. What I'm going to do will make it awkward, if not impossible.

Besides, he'll have no money. I'll stop what he owes out of his pay."

"A good plan! However, I won't lend you the money; I'll lend it Jake,

which makes him responsible. But your pay's less than mine, and you'll

have to economize for the next few months."

"That won't matter," Dick answered quietly. "I owe Fuller something, and

I like the lad."

He went back to his shack and said to Jake, "We'll be able to clear off

the debt, but you must ask no questions and agree to any arrangement I

think it best to make."

"You're a good sort," Jake said with feeling; but Dick cut short his

thanks and went off to bed.

Next morning he started for Santa Brigida, and when he reached

Kenwardine's house met Clare on a balcony at the top of the outside

stairs. Somewhat to his surprise, she stopped him with a sign, and then

stood silent for a moment, looking disturbed.

"Mr. Brandon," she said hesitatingly, "I resented your trying to prevent

Mr. Fuller coming here, but I now think it better that he should keep

away. He's young and extravagant, and perhaps----"

"Yes," said Dick, who felt sympathetic, knowing what her admission must

have cost. "I'm afraid he's also rather unsteady."

Clare looked at him with some color in her face. "I must be frank.

Something happened recently that showed me he oughtn't to come. I don't

think I realized this before."

"Then you know what happened?"

"Not altogether," Clare replied. "But I learned enough to alarm and

surprise me. You must understand that I didn't suspect----" She paused

with signs of confusion and then resumed: "Of course, people of different

kinds visit my father on business, and sometimes stay an hour or two

afterwards, and he really can't be held responsible for them. The customs

of the country force him to be friendly; you know in Santa Brigida one's

office is something like an English club. Well, a man who doesn't come

often began a game of cards and when Mr. Fuller----"

"Just so," said Dick as quietly as he could. "Jake's rash and not to be

trusted when there are cards about; indeed, I expect he's a good deal to

blame, but I'm now going to ask your father not to encourage his visits.

I've no doubt he'll see the reason for this."

"I'm sure he'll help you when he understands," Clare replied, and after

giving Dick a grateful look moved away.

Dick went along the balcony, thinking hard. It was obvious that Clare had

found the interview painful, though he had tried to make it easier for

her. She had been alarmed, but he wondered whether she had given him the

warning out of tenderness for Jake. It was probable that she really

thought Kenwardine was not to blame, but it must have been hard to

acknowledge that his house was a dangerous place for an extravagant lad.

Still, a girl might venture much when fighting for her lover. Dick

frowned as he admitted this. Jake was a good fellow in spite of certain

faults, but it was disturbing to think that Clare might be in love with

him.