“I came to tell you a big storm is brewing,” he said quickly.  “You and Imogene must plan to stay in Kennard for some time.  If a heavy fall of snow occurs, the mesa will be closed for ten days or two weeks with the temperature very low.”

“Then I’ll pack my things in my suit-case so that I can remain that long,” Ruth exclaimed.  “I’ll stay with Mabel Seybolt.  Imogene’s uncle sent up his car this morning, but I didn’t imagine there was any really bad storm coming and sent it back.  I doubt if the snow amounts to much, anyway.  The weather’s too warm.”  Nevertheless, she began to fill a suit-case.

“I’ll tell Imogene also,” Lee said.

Ruth’s eyes turned toward Gretzinger with an inquiring look.

“There won’t be room for three of us, will there?”

“No,” he answered.

Her regard still continued directed at him.

“I’m sure there won’t be,” she said, with conviction.  “It probably won’t storm before to-morrow, in any case.  I’ll tell Mr. McDonnell in the morning and he can send up his big car for her.”

“Or you can take her to town yourself,” Gretzinger added in an indifferent tone.

“I can’t spare the time,” Lee said.

“But dearie, I’ll be done packing in two minutes, while it will take Imogene half an hour,” Ruth replied.  “She’s too slow to wait for.  And she has one of her eternal headaches, too.”

Ruth was hurriedly removing articles from her trunk to the suit-case.

“Listen, please,” Lee said, addressing her.  “If Imo remains she may become snowbound, and if snowbound, freeze.  I can’t go, I can’t possibly go.  With this storm coming, I must stay at camp.  As things are, a blizzard may put me out of business.”

Ruth straightened up to confront him.

“You mean the work would stop, that you couldn’t finish it on time?”

“That’s just what I mean.”

“Why?” Gretzinger spoke.  “You have ten days left.”

“Yes, and what are ten days with two feet of snow on the ground and the mercury forty below zero?” Bryant retorted.

Gretzinger stood up, glanced at his watch, and buttoned his overcoat.  He then bent down and set to work buckling the straps of the suit-case Ruth had closed.

“You do seem to get into every possible kind of trouble, Lee,” the girl said.

“Perhaps I do.  But the point now is about Imogene.  Will you take her with you, or not?”

“Mr. McDonnell can send for her to-morrow; that will be soon enough.”

“My God, you leave her!  With a blizzard coming!”

“I don’t think there’ll be a blizzard.  Or if there is, she can get along comfortably till her uncle comes.”

“Are you ready, Ruth?” Gretzinger asked, impatiently.