He chuckled over his salad.

"You're hopelessly won to the opposition," he declared. "Leave your
check for me, and I'll pay it. And if your unknown knight returns to
the observation-car, ask him about those confounded turkeys."




VI

But the unknown knight had not returned to the observation-car until
the long train was sliding into Sespe, and Kay had no time to satisfy
her thirst for information anent young turkeys. With unexpected
garrulity, he had introduced himself; with the receipt of this
information, she had been rendered speechless, first with surprise, and
then with distress as her alert mind swiftly encompassed the pitiful
awakening that was coming to this joyous home-comer. Before she could
master her emotions, he was disappearing over the brass rail at the end
of the observation-car; even as he waved her a debonair farewell, she
caught the look of surprise and puzzlement in his black eyes.
Wherefore, she knew the quick tears had betrayed her.

"Oh, you poor fellow!" she whispered to herself, as she dabbed at her
eyes with a wisp of a lace handkerchief. "What a tragedy!"

What a tragedy, indeed!

She had never been in the San Gregorio, and to-day was to mark her