I did n't feel any
special interest in her at the time, supposing she belonged to Old
Gillis, but she somehow grew on me--she's that kind, you know; and when
I discovered, purely by accident, that she was Captain Nolan's girl,
but that it all had been kept from her, I just naturally made up my
mind I 'd dig out the truth if I possibly could, for her sake. The
fact is, I began to think a lot about her--not the way you do, you
understand; I'm getting too old for that, and have known too much about
women,--but maybe somewhat as a father might feel. Anyhow, I wanted to
give her a chance, a square deal, so that she would n't be ashamed of
her own name if ever she found out what it was."
He paused, his eyes filled with memories, and passed his hand through
his uncovered hair.
"About that time I fell foul of Murphy and Slavin there in Glencaid,"
he went on quickly, as if anxious to conclude. "I never got my eyes on
Murphy, you know, and Slavin was so changed by that big red beard that
I failed to recognize him. But their actions aroused my suspicions,
and I went after them good and hard. I wanted to find out what they
knew, and why those lies were told on Nolan at the trial.
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