In Selwyn’s face came flush that crimsoned it.  “Yes, it was Harrie.  I don’t know what happened.  He had been drinking, but I can’t believe he struck her.  If he did—­my God!”

With shuddering movement Selwyn’s elbows were on his knees, his face in his hands, and only the dropping of a coal upon the hearth broke the stillness of the room.  Presently he got up and again went over to the window.  When he next spoke his voice was quiet, but in it a bitterness and weariness he made no effort to conceal.  “It was Harrie, but he would tell me nothing about the girl.  From some one else I learned where I could find her.  A few days after I saw her, Harrie went away.”

“Did you make him go?”

“No.  I had a talk with him during which he told me to mind my own damned business and he would mind his.”  Selwyn turned from the window and came back to the sofa, on his lips a faint smile.  “When he went off he didn’t tell me he was going, left no address, and for some time I didn’t know where he was.  Less than three weeks ago I had a telegram from him saying he was ill and to send money.  I wired the money and left for El Paso on the first train I could make.  I tried to see you before I went, but you were out.”

“Why didn’t you write?”

“I couldn’t.  Once or twice I tried, but gave it up.  I found that Harrie had undoubtedly been ill, but when I reached him he was up and about.  Two hours before I took the train to return home he informed me of his engagement to—­”

“His what?” For a moment I sat rigidly upright, in my eyes indignant unbelief.  Then I sat back limp and relaxed, my hands, palms upward, in my lap.

Selwyn’s shoulders shrugged.  “Your amazement is feeble to what mine was.  On the train going down he had renewed his acquaintance with a girl and her mother he had met somewhere; here, I believe, and a week after reaching her home the girl was engaged to him.  Her name is Swink.”

“Is she crazy?”

“No.  Her mother is crazy.  I don’t blame the girl.  She’s young, pretty, silly, and doubtless in love.  Harrie has fatal facility in making love.  This mamma person has a good deal of money; no sense, and large social ambitions.  She’s determined to get there.  If only fools died as soon as they were born there would be hope for humanity.  A fat fool is beyond the reach of endeavor.”  With eyes narrowed and his forehead ridged in tiny folds, Selwyn stared at me.  “Have women no sense, Danny?  Have they no understanding, no—­”

“Some have.  But sense and understanding interfere with comfortable ignorances that aren’t pleasant to be interfered with.  Does this female parent know anything about Harrie?  Did she let her daughter become engaged before making inquiries about him?”