Part 2 (1/2)
”We are wasting time,” he warned her ”In Bill's place I heard you say you were going to leave on the Tete Jaune train I a to take you to a real dinner And now--I should let those good people know your na and steady--she looked into his face
”It is Joanne, the name you have made famous as the dreadfulest woman in fiction Joanne Gray”
”I am sorry,” he said, and bowed low ”Come If I am not mistaken I smell new-baked bread”
As they moved on he suddenly touched her arers There was a new light in his eyes, a glow of enthusiasht it toa name for _her_--the woman in my new book She is to be a tremendous surprise I haven't found a naray!”
He felt the girl flinch He was surprised at the sudden startled look that shot into her eyes, the swift ebbing of the colour froe in her He noticed how quickly she was breathing--that the fingers of her white hands were clasped tensely
”You object,” he said
”Not enough to keep you froreat deal” He noted, too, how quickly she had recovered herself
Her head was a little higher She looked toward the tents ”You were not mistaken,” she added ”I smell new-made bread!”
”And I shall eray,” said John Aldous, as if speaking to hiives it the touch of senti 'Dear little _Lady_gray, are you warray as if she wore a coronet, would he?”
”Smell-o'-bread--fresh bread!” sniffed Joanne Gray, as if she had not heard hiry Will you please hurrythe first of the three tent-houses, over which was a crudely painted sign which read ”Otto Brothers, Guides and Outfitters” It was a large, square tent, eather-faded red and blue stripes, and frohter Half a dozen trauidly as they drew nearer One of them stood up and snarled
”They won't hurt you,” assured Aldous ”They belong to Jack Bruce and Clossen Otto--the finest bunch of grizzly dogs in the Rockies” Another moment, and a woman had appeared in the door ”And that is Mrs Jack Otto,”
he added under his breath ”If all wos you have read!”
He ht have added that she was Scotch But this was not necessary The laughter was still in her good-humoured face Aldous looked at his co back The eyes of the tomen had already met
Briefly Aldous explained what had happened at Quade's, and that the young woood-humoured smile left Mrs Otto's face when he mentioned Quade
”I've told Jack I'd like to poison that et you a cup of tea”
”Which always means dinner in the Otto cary, but I'irl say as she went in with Mrs Otto, and there was a new and strangely pathetic note in her voice ”I want to rest--until the train goes”
He followed them in, and stood for a moment near the door
”There's a roo back a curtain
”Make yourself at home, and lie down on the bed until I have the tea ready”
When the curtain had closed behind her, John Aldous spoke in a low voice to the woman
”Will you see her safely to the train, Mrs Otto?” he asked ”It leaves at a quarter after two I ”