Page:Jackson Gregory--joyous trouble maker.djvu/163

Rh She threw her horse's reins over the limb of a tree before he could come to her, determined that he should know that she required no service from him.

"Came alone, huh?" was his next irritating remark, "I thought you'd do just that!"

"Did you?" She smiled her cool, indifferent smile at him.

"Sure thing," he assured her. "Just to show me that you were not afraid. If you ever want to win a man's heart, my dear boy of a girl, you're got to learn to surprise him now and then. Do the unexpected, you know."

"Thank you ever so much." She was very grave, looking to be frankly grateful as Steele noticed with rising approval. "I'll remember when I go back to town."

"Where the real nice men are? That's right," he advised. "They're your sort. Now, shall we visit the new palace? Built pretty nearly as speedily as Aladdin's and, to my notion, a blamed sight more desirable. Shall I emulate our friend Embry and help you along? Or think you can make it alone?"

No girl ever lived who knew better than Beatrice Corliss that purely feminine trick of a smile eloquently indicating that she had risen to serene heights very far above him, whence she regarded him confused with other insect life of the earth's grass.

They followed Steele's trail up the river to the slope which led to his tableland, Steele dropping a couple of paces behind her, his eyes showing his admiration now that she could not see it, Beatrice seeking to breathe