He was working
furiously and the crew was following his example, when the three
riders, who were Garman, Mrs. Livingstone and the girl, came cantering
up to the fence line.
It was a different Garman than had faced Roger across the camp fire on
Deer Hammock; and it was a different girl than had ridden away from
Flower Prairie. Only Mrs. Livingstone seemed to be as Roger recalled
her, cold, affected; arrogant, and extremely conscious of the
importance of her position as chaperon.
Garman for the nonce was the courtier, the artistic idler, the
dilettante in the art of luxurious living; and Payne, conscious of his
dirt-smudged overalls, envied him the elegance with which he played the
role. That Garman was interested in the crudities of business seemed
an improbability; that he was connected with things dark and hidden, a
thought to ridicule. His purpose in life just then was that of the
luxurious idler, to escort two ladies of his class for a leisurely
ride, to serve them gracefully as their chevalier. And yet, beneath
the silken coat of manners the tiger force of him was evident. From
where he stood Payne could feel the hypnotic power of the man's mere
presence.
As he looked at the girl he saw that she too had felt it--saw that it
was Garman's nearness that wrought the change in her.
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