"Oh, dear," she complained, "how fearfully awkward!
Now I shall have to take the next train to San Francisco and book
passage on the steamer to Sequoia--and Marcelle is such a poor
sailor. Oh, dear!"
Bryce had an inspiration and hastened to reveal it.
"We are about to start for Sequoia now, although the lateness of our
start will compel us to put up tonight at the rest-house on the south
fork of Trinity River and continue the journey in the morning.
However, this rest-house is eminently respectable and the food and
accommodations are extraordinarily good for mountains; so, if an
invitation to occupy the tonneau of my car will not be construed as
an impertinence, coming as it does from a total stranger, you are at
liberty to regard this car as to all intents and purposes the public
conveyance which so scandalously declined to wait for you this
morning."
She looked at him searchingly for a brief instant: then with a
peculiarly winning smile and a graceful inclination of her head she
thanked him and accepted his hospitality--thus:
"Why, certainly not! You are very kind, and I shall be eternally
grateful."
"Thank you for that vote of confidence. It makes me feel that I have
your permission to introduce myself. My name is Bryce Cardigan, and I
live in Sequoia when I'm at home.
Pages:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61