With the former his way was clear; he did not yet see his way as
to La Touche. How would he be able to make the amende honorable to La
Touche?
By and by he became somewhat less absorbed and enveloped by the
comforting night. He saw the glimmer of red light afar, and vaguely
wondered what it was. It was in the direction of O'Ryan's Ranch, but he
thought nothing of it, because it burned steadily. It was probably a fire
lighted by settlers trailing to the farther north. While the night wore
on he rode as slowly back to the town as he had galloped from it like a
centaur with a captive.
Again and again Molly Mackinder's face came before him; but he resolutely
shut it out of his thoughts. He felt that he had no right to think of her
until he had "done the right thing" by Jopp and by La Touche. Yet the
look in her face as the curtain came down, it was not that of one
indifferent to him or to what he did. He neared the town half-way between
midnight and morning. Almost unconsciously avoiding the main streets, he
rode a roundabout way towards the little house where Constantine Jopp
lived. He could hear loud noises in the streets, singing, and hoarse
shouts. Then silence came, then shouts, and silence again.
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