The fact that this remarkable young woman had also left the train at
Red Bluff further interested him, for he knew Red Bluff and while
giving due credit to the many lovely damsels of that ambitious little
city, Bryce had a suspicion that no former Red Bluff girl would dare
to invade the old home town with a French maid. He noted, as further
evidence of the correctness of his assumption, that the youthful
baggage-smasher at the station failed to recognize her and was
evidently dazzled when, followed by the maid struggling with two
suit-cases, she approached him and in pure though alien English (the
Italian A predominated) inquired the name and location of the best
hotel and the hour and point of departure of the automobile stage for
San Hedrin. The youth had answered her first question and was about
to answer the second when George Sea Otter, in all his barbaric
splendour, came pussy-footing around the comer of the station in old
man Cardigan's regal touring-car.
The Highest Living Authority, following the gaze of the baggage-
smasher, turned and beheld George Sea Otter. Beyond a doubt he was of
the West westward. She had heard that California stage-drivers were
picturesque fellows, and in all probability the displacing of the old
Concord coach of the movie-thriller in favour of the motor-stage had
not disturbed the idiosyncrasies of the drivers in their choice of
raiment.
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