"It's ten-forty!" groaned Johnny. "I'm slow on that million.
Constance'll think I'm loafing."

"Is she interested?"

"She promised last night to keep score. Gresham was there. I looked,
any minute, to see him bite himself in the neck and die of poison.
Polly, he can't have her."

"You'd better tell Constance about that," laughed Polly. "Why,
Johnny, you had never seen her or heard of her forty-eight hours
ago!"

"I know; I didn't have the right chances when I was young!"

Polly gazed upon him admiringly.

"I've seen swift love affairs before, but you've set a new record!"
she exclaimed. "Well, I'm for you, Johnny. Since poor Billy's
parents adopted me and made me a cousin of Constance, I can trot up
her stone steps any minute; and she treats me as if I'd had my first
bottle in a pink-silk boudoir. I'll make it my business to run up
there twice a day and boost for you."

"Don't be too strong!" Johnny hastily warned her. "Boost half of the
time if you want to, but be sure and knock the other half."

"I guess it would be better," soberly agreed Polly--"even with
Constance. Here's your terminal station. Pick out your corner and
drive a claim stake."