Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/114

110 “My! this is a surprise,” North exclaimed as he drew back his head and looked into her beaming eyes. “I was expecting something altogether different from this.”

“You were looking for trouble, from all appearances,” Marion laughingly replied. “I’m glad you have put that nasty thing away. I don’t like it.”

“I was looking for trouble,” North confessed, “although, for once I’m glad I didn’t find it.”

“But perhaps you have found it,” Marion bantered. “You have found me, and I’m certain that I’m going to be the greatest trouble of all.”

“I’ll like you all the better, then,” and again North kissed her. “You cannot frighten me that way, remember. Facing trouble has been my lot for years, and I’ve not had too much of it yet.”

“But this is a different kind, John. You are thinking only about men. Just wait and see what trouble one woman can make.”

“Oh, I’m not worrying about that, darling,” the sergeant assured her with a hearty laugh. “It will be a change, anyway.”

Rolfe’s voice outside speaking sharply to the dogs brought a serious expression to North’s face. Love for the moment had interfered with duty, and that was contrary to the strict code to which he was bound.

“Where is the man who owns this cabin?” he suddenly asked.

“I do not know,” Marion truthfully replied.

“But he was here a short time ago, was he not?”

“Yes.”

“And he brought you here?”

“He did. But for him I do not know what I should have done. Tell me, have you seen Zell?”