"You're perfectly horrid," she blazed, and hung up without the
formality of saying good-bye.




CHAPTER XXXIV


Shortly after Shirley's departure from his office, Bryce had a visit
from Buck Ogilvy. The latter wore a neatly pressed suit of Shepherd
plaid, with a white carnation in his lapel, and he was, apparently,
the most light-hearted young man in Humboldt County. He struck an
attitude and demanded:

"Boss, what do you think of my new suit?"

"You lunatic! Don't you know red blonds should never wear light
shades? You're dressed like a Negro minstrel."

"Well, I feel as happy as an end-man. And by the way, you're all
chirked up yourself. Who's been helping you to the elixir of life.
When we parted last night, you were forty fathoms deep in the slough
of despond."

"No less a divinity than Miss Shirley Sumner! She called this morning
to explain that last night's fiasco was none of her making, and quite
innocently she imparted the information that old Pennington lighted
out for San Francisco at one o'clock this morning. Wherefore I laugh.