He had, moreover, been too much of a traveler
not to be able to adapt himself philosophically to any condition in
which he found himself.
He was about to pick up his hat and go to the bar to pay for his meal,
when he was struck by the tones of a familiar voice. He looked about
quickly and saw Pedro, the cowboy employed at the ranch. He was surprised
at this, as he was sure Pedro was supposed at the time to be on herd
duty. Had Mr. Melton intended that he should be in town, he would have
suggested to Bert that the half-breed might do his commissions for him
and save him the long journey.
Bert's first thought, therefore, was that Pedro was "lying down on his
job" and shirking duty for the sake of a day's debauch in town. It roused
his indignation, as he always hated anything that savored of sneaking or
disloyalty. Still, it was not his affair and Pedro was safe as far as he
was concerned. He would not act as talebearer.
He had never liked the half-breed from the moment that he had met him.
There was a sullen reticence that checked advances, and although he had
always tried to be friendly, Pedro had held him at a distance.
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