Some one was speaking to Washburn in the
office. Then footsteps were heard on the stairs, and Mrs. Bradley,
followed by Luke, waddled laboriously up the steps. She was wiping her
eyes, which were red from weeping. She glanced in cold surprise at
Harriet, and passing her with only a nod, went to Westerfelt and threw
her arms around his neck. Then with her head on his breast she burst
into fresh tears.
"You pore, motherless, unprotected boy," she sobbed. "I can't bear it
a bit longer. Me 'n' Luke wus the cause o' yore comin' to this
oncivilized place anyway, an' you've been treated wuss 'an a dog. Ef
Luke had one speck o' manhood left in him, he'd--"
Bradley advanced from the door, and drew his wife away from Westerfelt.
"Don't act so daddratted foolish," he said. "No harm hain't been done
yet--no _serious_ harm." Still holding her hand, he turned to
Westerfelt; "They've tried to do you dirt, John, I know, but them boys
will be the best friends on earth to you now. Ef you ever want to run
fer office all you got to do is to announce yorese'f. Old Hunter wus
down at Bill Stone's this mornin' as we passed buyin' his fine hoss to
replace yore'n.
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