She wasn't going to do any more, though, and you told me"-- Rock's manner became very impressive here--"that you promised her, as a man and a gentleman, that you wouldn't ever bother her, and that she was to travel her own trail, and she didn't want the money.

She just wanted to dodge that fool will, seems like.

Strikes me I'd a let the fellow go plumb to Guinea, if I was in her place, but women get queer notions of duty, and the like of that, sometimes.

Looks to me like a fool thing for a woman to do, anyway." Though they talked a good while about it, that was all the real information which Ford could gain.

He would have to find the minister and persuade him to show the record of the marriage, and after that he would have to find the girl.
Before they reached that definite conclusion, the storm which had been brewing for several days swooped down upon them, and drove Ford to the alternative of riding in the teeth of it to town, which was not only unpleasant but dangerous, if it grew any worse, or retracing his steps to the Double Cross and waiting there until it was over.