Page:Keeban (IA keeban00balm).pdf/87

 She was wondering whether I recognized her from that room by the river, I thought; she must have been wondering several other things. For one, how did I happen to run into her just at this moment? For another, how much did I know?

One thing about me, I'm slow but I'm not expressive. I may be gradual about getting a fact from somebody else but not many learn much from me. In bridge, when I bid my hand, nobody's sure whether I have the cards or whether I'm just trying to force the other fellow up. To-night I stepped up to the car as though I'd no idea who might be in it.

"I hope you're not hurt?" I started; and then, "Why, isn't it Mrs. Scofield?"

She spoke my name; I said the obvious regrets and all that. She made the ordinary replies.

"I was going down after Mr. Scofield," she mentioned and she spoke to the chauffeur who had come about beside me. "Thurston, if you'll get out the other car now."

For a moment that stumped me; for if she was going to use another car, I had to use another plan and I hadn't another. My own machine, as I've commented, was in no shape to