God could not mock her faith by a last catastrophe.
"Sandy--you've seen Neale?"
Allie loved this sharp, keen voice for its note of dread. "Shure.
B'gorra, yez couldn't hilp seein' him. He's as big as a hill an' his
shirt's as red as Casey's red wan. I wint to give him the little gun
wot Durade pulled on him. Dom' me! he looked roight at me an' niver
seen me," replied the Irishman.
"Lee, you will see Neale?" queried General Lodge. There was a
silence.
"No," presently came a cold reply. "It is not necessary. He saved
me--injury perhaps. I am grateful. I'll reward him."
"How?" rang General Lodge's voice.
"Gold, of course. Neale was a gambler. Probably he had a grudge
against this Durade.... I need not meet Neale, it seems, I am
somewhat--overwrought. I wish to spare myself further excitement."
"Lee--listen!" returned General Lodge, violently. "Neale is a
splendid young man--the nerviest, best engineer I ever knew. I
predicted great things for him. They have come true."
"That doesn't interest me."
"You'll hear it, anyhow. He saved the life of this girl who has
turned out to be your daughter. He took care of her. He loved her--
was engaged to marry her.... Then he lost her. And after that he was
half mad. It nearly ruined him."
"I do not credit that.
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