THE LITTLE MAN TALKS Mary Bransford spent the first day of Sanderson's absence in the isolation of the parlor, with the shades drawn, crying.

Her brother had bitterly disappointed her.
He had sent word by one of the men that he was going to Las Vegas to look up the title to the property.

She thought he might at least have brought her the message personally.
Mary told herself that she had not been unduly demonstrative, as Sanderson had intimated by his actions.

She had merely been glad to see him, as any sister would be glad to see a brother whom she had not seen for many years; and she assured herself that if he loved her as she loved him he would not have resented her display of affection.
That affection, though, troubled Mary.

To be sure, she had never had a brother about, to fuss over, and therefore she could not tell just how deeply she should be expected to love the one whom Providence had given her; but she was certain that she did not love him too much.
For Sanderson was worthy of the full measure of any sister's love.
Big, handsome, vigorous, with a way about him that any woman must admire, Mary felt he deserved all the affection she could bestow.
Her wonder and perplexity came over a contemplation of the quality of that love.