He invited Norton to his home, had him to dinner, watched him keenly,
and came to the conclusion that Norton was riding on his nerves, that
he had not taken sufficient time to recuperate before getting his feet
back into the official stirrups, that the strain of his duties was
telling on him, that he needed a rest and a change or would go to
pieces.
But Norton, the subject broached, merely shook his head.
"I'm all right, John," he said a little hurriedly and nervously. "I am
run down at the heels a bit, I'll admit. But I can't stop to rest
right now. One of these days I'll quit this job and go back to
ranching. Until then . . . Well, let them talk. We can't stop them
very well."
Suspicion of the Quigley mines robbery had turned at first toward del
Rio. But he had established an alibi. So had Galloway. So had Antone
and the Kid.
"There is nothing to do but wait," Norton insisted. "It won't be long
now."
Engle, having less than no faith in Patten's ability, went to Virginia
Page. She saw Norton often; what did she think? Was he on the verge
of a collapse? Was he physically fit?
"All of this criticism hurts him," said the banker thoughtfully. "I
know Rod and how he must take it, though he only shrugs. It's gall and
wormwood to him. He's up against a hard proposition, as we all know;
if he is half-sick, I wonder if the proposition isn't going to be too
much for him? Can't you advise him, persuade him to knock off for a
couple of weeks and clear out? Get into a city somewhere and forget
his work.
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