Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/290



Teeters moved in a mysterious way his wonders to per- form.

Outwardly, there would seem to be no possible con- nection between his presence in the living room at Happy Wigwam making himself even more than ordinarily agree- able, and the confession he desired to wring from the murderer of Mormon Joe.

Years of " Duding," however, had given Teeters a confidence in himself and his diplomacy which would seem to be justified, for, as he rightly argued, " A man who can handle dudes can do anything."

Now, he knew that if he had come to Mrs. Taylor and bluntly asked the use of her supernatural gifts in Kate's behalf she would have refused him.

Kate had gone to Teeters in despair after her failure with MuUendore, hoping that he might have something to suggest which had not occurred to her. She had told him all that had happened, and among other things, that she knew now that the ** breed " had negro blood in him.

" It probably accounts for his secret belief in an old- fashioned, brimstone hell," she had added. " He denies it, of cpurse, but I'm sure it's the one thing he's really afraid of."

The information had Impressed Teeters.

" You go back and keep the varmit alive until I gft