Now there's my
father. He comes nearer understanding me than anybody else, but
he's quite adamantine to my wiles."
"I shall order a suit of chain armor at once."
"An unnecessary expense. Your emotions are quite under control,"
she told him saucily.
"I wish I were as sure."
"I thought you promised to be interesting," she complained.
"Now you're afraid I'm going to make love to you. Let me relieve
your mind. I'm not."
"I knew you wouldn't be so stupid," she assured him.
"No objection to my admiring your artistic effect at a distance,
as a spectator in a gallery?"
"I shall expect that," she rippled.
"Just as one does a picture too expensive to own."
"I suppose I AM expensive."
"Not a doubt of it. But if you don't mind I'll come occasionally
to the gallery to study the masterpiece."
"I'll mind if you don't."
Voices were heard approaching along the hall. The portieres
parted. The immediate effect on Farnum of the great figure that
filled the doorway was one of masterful authority. A massive head
crested a figure of extraordinary power. Gray as a mediaeval
castle, age had not yet touched his gnarled strength. The keen
steady eyes, the close straight lips, the shaggy eyebrows heavy
and overhanging, gave accent to the rugged force of this grim
freebooter who had reversed the law of nature which decrees that
railroads shall follow civilization.
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