292 FUR FACTS 



"You are going with my uncle?" she asked, in the same manner. 



"With Mr. Henderly, yes," I answered, "but I didn't know he 

 was your uncle." 



"Yes he is my uncle and guardian." 



"You will have to watch him very carefully. There are times 

 when he gets beastly drunk — and when he's drunk he's liable to do 

 anything." 



"I'll keep my eye on him," I assured her. 



We were interrupted here by Mr. Henderly. He opened the 

 door quickly, and seeing us standing as we were, she on the third 

 step and I at the bottom, uttered a most terrible oath and commanded 

 the girl back to her room. 



He was very sullen all through the morning meal and when we 

 had finally taken our leave he asked me, casually, if I had ever met 

 his niece before. 



Feeling that I should have to account, in some measure, for my 

 unusual conduct that morning I told him frankly about my first 

 meeting with the girl. 



My story must have been unwelcome news to him, for I noticed 

 that he grew more sullen from that very hour and his attitude which 

 had before been one of utmost friendliness and confidence changed 

 to one of comparative coolness and reserve. 



Nevertheless, he provided me with plenty to eat, stopping often 

 at towns along the river to replenish our supplies, and I determined 

 to continue the journey at all hazards, if only to find out more con- 

 cerning the girl and her situation at that time. 



In time we arrived at the city of New Orleans and here Henderley 

 was busy for two weeks or more negotiating with the land dealers. 

 We had one of the finest rooms in the hotel there and I spent the 

 first week around town, taking in points of interest and resting. On 

 Monday night of the second week Henderley came in earlier than 

 usual and for once seemed quite talkative. One of the land dealers 

 was giving a party on the following Wednesday night and he asked 

 me if I would care to attend. I told him I wouldn't mind it if I had 

 some decent clothes. To my surprise he gave me $30.00 and told 

 me to buy myself a suit and whatever else I needed. I bought the 

 best outfit I could get for $25.00; got a hair cut and a shave and still 

 had $4.00 in my pocket. 



I determined that as soon as the party was over I was going to 

 get out on the river and trap, as I had grown very tired of idling 

 around injthe city. 



