Page:The Valley of Fear.pdf/192

Rh The door had opened suddenly, and a young fellow came swaggering in with the air of one who is the master. He was a handsome, dashing young man of about the same age and build as McMurdo himself. Under his broad-brimmed black felt hat, which he had not troubled to remove, a handsome face with fierce, domineering eyes and a curved hawk-bill of a nose looked savagely at the pair who sat by the stove.

Ettie had jumped to her feet full of confusion and alarm. “I’m glad to see you, Mr. Baldwin,” said she. “You’re earlier than I had thought. Come and sit down.”

Baldwin stood with his hands on his hips looking at McMurdo. “Who is this?” he asked curtly.

“It’s a friend of mine, Mr. Baldwin, a new boarder here. Mr. McMurdo, may I introduce you to Mr. Baldwin?”

The young men nodded in surly fashion to each other.

“Maybe Miss Ettie has told you how it is with us?” said Baldwin.

“I didn’t understand that there was any relation between you.” [190]