And I hoped that when you understood you would forgive the part I was
forced to play for the good of everyone interested."
Kitty understood the meaning in his words that was unknown to Phil, and
her eyes expressed the gratitude that she could not speak.
"By the way," Patches continued, "I am not mistaken in offering my
congratulations and best wishes, am I?"
They laughed happily.
"We have made no announcement yet," Phil answered, "but you seem to know
everything."
"I feel like saying from the bottom of my heart 'God bless you, my
children.' You make me feel strangely old," he returned, with a touch of
his old wistfulness. Then he added in his droll way, "Perhaps, though,
it's from living in the open and sleeping in my clothes so long. Talk
about horses, I'd give my kingdom for a bath, a shave and a clean shirt.
I had begun to think that our old friend Nick never would brand another
calf; that he had reformed, just to get even with me, you know. By the
way, Phil, you will be interested to know that Nick is the man who is
really responsible for your happiness."
"How?" demanded Phil.
"Why, it was Nick who fired the shot that brought Kitty to her senses.
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