“That is a road I have always wanted to explore,” said Patricia, pointing to the fine driveway leading up the small canyon.  “That is one of my weaknesses when I am driving; I am never able to pass a branch road without wanting to turn aside and explore it.”

“Then we’ll explore this one, right now,” said Blount, cutting the car to the left.  He was more than willing to delay, even by littles, the moment when he should be obliged to resume the sorry business of waiting and dissembling.

Miss Anners glanced at the tiny watch pinned upon her shoulder.

“Shall we have time?  It’s getting late.”

“Plenty of time for all we shall be able to do or see up here,” Blount returned.  “The road ends at the canyon head, a mile above.  There is a very small and very exclusive summer-resort hotel, called the Shonoho Inn, on the upper level.  It has a six-weeks’ season—­like the Florida resorts—­they tell me, and it is closed now.”

It was within the next five hundred yards that the prediction that there would be nothing to see anticipated its fulfilment.  At a sudden turn in the narrow defile they came to a brush-built barricade posted with a sign: 

ROAD WASHED OUT ABOVE
NO PASSING FOR VEHICLES!

“That settles it,” said Blount shortly, and he turned the car and let it roll back down the grade to the main gulch.

When they were once more speeding toward town Blount stole a glance at his companion, wondering if it were the small disappointment which made her silent.

“Are you tired?” he asked quickly.

“Oh, no,” she rejoined, brightening again.  “I have enjoyed every minute of it.  I was just thinking of what I said a little while ago; of how it is going to break my heart to leave it all.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that she needn’t leave it.  But he remembered and caught himself sharply.  When the dreadful Tuesday should have come and gone, she might be only too willing to go away; and, in any event, he would have to go.  There would be no place in his own and his father’s State for him after Gryson returned, and the match had been touched to the hidden mine of high explosives.  This was what was in his mind when he said rather tamely:  “I suppose you will have to go.  There isn’t any chance for social-settlement work out here yet.”

“No,” she responded half-absently; and thereupon he gave the little car still more spark and throttle and sent it flying over the final stretch of the fine road to the city.

The electric lights were showing like faint yellow stars against the sunset sky when Blount skilfully placed the small car at the Inter-Mountain curb and lifted his companion to the sidewalk.

“Are you going anywhere to-night?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” was the reply.  “There is a ‘crush’ on at the Weatherfords’, but I don’t know whether Mrs. Blount has accepted for us or not.”