dejected--as if something had happened. Even Cora, comparative
stranger that she was to him, could not help inquiring the cause of
his trouble.

"Is--is there anything the matter?" she asked hesitatingly.

"Oh--not much. Only I--er--I have just ex experienced quite a loss,
and it makes me--blue."

"That's too bad!"

"Yes," he went on. "I had an opportunity of getting a first-class
position, but another fellow got ahead of me."

"How's that?"

'Well, you see, a firm in New City needs a manager. I have good
backing, and was almost certain of the place. But another fellow had
just as good a chance, and it was a question of who got there first.
I was delayed here and missed the only train that would bring me
there on time. He caught it, and is now on his way there. He'll get
the place and I--won't."

"But why don't you take a machine and go there? You can do it as
quickly as the train can."

"Take a machine?" he repeated. "I wouldn't dare. I'd be sure to
lose my place here, and might not get the other. I haven't a car in
the place I would dare risk taking out on the road. The owners are
too particular about them, and I can't blame them, either."