"
"Oh, that's different!"
A look of relief swept over the rugged face. "I only wish I could help
you some, no matter how little. You did me the biggest favor once that
ever one man did another. When you jerked me back from the train that
night and forced me to behave myself you saved me from no end o' shame
an' trouble. La, me! I've thought of that a thousand times."
"Don't mention it." Saunders was touched by the deep surge of
gratitude in the despondent voice. "If I had not been a great friend
of yours and of your family, I would not have dared to act as I did.
But that is past and gone."
"Not with me--a thing like that never passes with me," Drake answered,
as they crossed the street and entered at the side door of the hotel.
They found some unoccupied chairs in a quiet part of the big office.
The clerks behind the counter were busy assigning rooms to a throng of
passengers from an incoming train. A dozen negro porters and bell-boys
were rushing to and fro. The elevators were busy. The tiled floor
resounded with the scurrying of active feet. Saunders saw the
mountaineer watching the scene with the lack-luster stare he had
caught in his eyes a few minutes before.
"You said you wanted to ask me something about your place," Drake
suddenly bethought himself to say.
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