Dick Livingstone. He's a man."

Margaret hesitated.

"Walter, have you ever thought there was anything queer about Dick
Livingstone's coming here?"

"Darned good for the town that he did come."

"But--nobody ever dreamed that David and Lucy had a nephew. Then
he turns up, and they send him to medical college, and all that."

"I've got some relations I haven't notified the town I possess,"
he said grimly.

"Well, there's something odd. I don't believe Henry Livingstone,
the Wyoming brother, ever had a son."

"What possible foundation have you for a statement like that?"

"Mrs. Cook Morgan's sister-in-law has been visiting her lately.
She says she knew Henry Livingstone well years ago in the West, and
she never heard he was married. She says positively he was not
married."

"And trust the Morgan woman to spread the good news," he said with
angry sarcasm. "Well, suppose that's true? Suppose Dick is an
illegitimate child? That's the worst that's implied, I daresay.
That's nothing against Dick himself. I'll tell the world there's
good blood on the Livingstone side, anyhow."