In the morning the Brock special bathed in sunshine lay in the Bear

Dance yard. When it was learned at breakfast that during the night

Morris Blood had disappeared there was a protest. He had taken a train

east, Glover told them.

"But you should not have let him run away," objected Marie Brock,

"we've barely made his acquaintance. I was going to ask him ever so

many questions about mines this morning. Tell him, Mr. Glover, when

you telegraph, that he has had a peremptory recall, will you? We want

him for dinner to-morrow night; papa and Mr. Bucks are to join us, you

know."

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Mr. Brock arrived the following evening but the general manager failed

them, and it was long after hope of Morris Blood had been given up that

Glover brought him in with apologies for his late arrival.

The two cars were sidetracked at Cascade, the heart of the sightseeing

country, and Glover had a trip laid out for the early morning on horses

up Cabin Creek.

When he sat down to explain to Marie where he meant to take the party

the following day Gertrude Brock had a book under the banquet lamp at

the lower end of the car. The doctor and Harrison with Mrs. Whitney

were gathered about Louise, who among the couch pillows was reading

hands. As Morris Blood, after some talk with Mr. Brock, approached,

Louise nodded to him. "We shall take no apologies for spoiling our

dinner party," said she, "but you may sit down. I haven't been able,

Mr. Blood, to get your story out of my head since you told it: none of

us have. Do you believe in palmistry? Now, Mr. Harrison, do sit still

till I finish your hand. Oh, here's another engagement in it! Why,

Allen Harrison!"

"How many is that?" asked Gertrude, looking over.

"Three; and here is further excitement for you, Mr. Harrison----"

"How soon?" demanded Allen.

"Very soon, I should think; just as soon as you get home."

"Well timed," said Marie; she and Glover had come up. "I think that's

all, this time," concluded Louise, studying the lines carefully. "Go

slow on mining for one year, remember." She looked at Morris Blood.

"Am I to have the pleasure of reading your hand?"

"There isn't a bit of excitement in my hand, Miss Donner, no fortunes,

no adventures, no engagements----"

"You mean in your life. Very good; that's just the sort of hand I love

to read. The excitement is all ahead. Really I should like to read

your hand."

"If you insist," he said, putting out his left hand.

"Your right, please," smiled Louise.

"I have no right," he answered. She looked mystified, but held out her

hand smilingly for his right.

"I have no right hand," he repeated, smiling, too.




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