Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/217

 "Certainly," replied Jack quickly, "a fine character."

Watson eyed him closely and then burst into a loud laugh which was so infectious that Jack joined in without knowing why. Suddenly checking himself, he said, "What are we laughing at anyway?"

"You sly dog," said Watson, "I've been there myself, and you needn't try to look innocent. She's a jewel, my boy, and I reckon you've done the right thing." Then changing his tone, he continued:

"After you left Austin, I wrote Andrew Genung stating that I had seen you, and made some inquiries about his brother and what had become of the boy Hernando. He answered at great length telling me that, as I knew, his brother Fred had died in a fight at Virginia City. The wife is probably—God knows where!" Here his voice sank to a whisper, "And their boy is a leper! Did you know this?"

"Yes," replied Jack, "and I know that that poor Spanish woman died a victim of