be half-witted and degraded all the more keenly because it did not make
him jealous. She could not take Flip from him. Rendered garrulous by
liquor, he went to voice his contempt for those who might attempt
it. Taking advantage of his daughter's absence to resume her homely
garments, he whispered confidentially to Lance,--

"Ye see these yer fine dresses, ye might think is presents. Pr'aps
Flip lets on they are? Pr'aps she don't know any better. But they ain't
presents. They're only samples o' dressmaking and jewelry that a vain,
conceited shrimp of a feller up in Sacramento sends down here to get
customers for. In course I'm to pay for 'em. In course he reckons I'm
to do it. In course I calkilate to do it; but he needn't try to play 'em
off as presents. He talks suthin' o' coming down here, sportin' hisself
off on Flip as a fancy buck! Not ez long ez the old man's here, you
bet." Thoroughly carried away by his fancied wrongs, it was perhaps
fortunate that he did not observe the flashing eyes of Lance behind his
lank and lustreless wig; but seeing only the figure of Lance, as he had
conjured him, he went on: "That's why I want you to hang around her.
Hang around her ontil my boy,--him that's comin' home on a visit,--gets
here, and I reckon he'll clear out that yar Sacramento counter-jumper.
Only let me get a sight o' him afore Flip does, eh? D'ye hear? Dog my
skin if I don't believe the d----d Injin's drunk." It was fortunate that
at that moment Flip reappeared, and, dropping on the hearth between her
father and the infuriated Lance, let her hand slip in his with a warning
pressure. The light touch momentarily recalled him to himself and her,
but not until the quick-witted girl had had revealed to her in one
startled wave of consciousness the full extent of Lance's infirmity
of temper. With the instinct of awakened tenderness came a sense of
responsibility, and a vague premonition of danger. The coy blossom
of her heart was scarce unfolded before it was chilled by approaching