"
Carroll himself kept pretty much aloof. He had the air of a man
who wrestles with a problem. Cluff fussed and fretted and
privately cursed the country and all its concessions. Between
calls and the telephone, Sherwen was kept constantly busy. But a
few minutes before six, central, in the blandest Spanish,
regretted to inform him that Puerto del Norte was cut off. When
would service be resumed? Quien sabe? It was an order. Hasta
manana. To-morrow, perhaps. Smoothing a furrow from his brow, the
sight of which would have done nobody any good, he suggested that
they all gather on the roof porch for a swizzle. The suggestion
was hailed with enthusiasm.
Thus, when the Unspeakable Perk came hustling down the street some
minutes earlier than the appointed time, he was hailed in
Sherwen's voice, and bidden to come directly up. No time, on this
occasion, for Miss Polly to escape. She decided in one breath to
ignore the man entirely; in the next to bow coldly and walk out;
in the next to--He was there before the latest wavering decision
could be formulated.
"Better all get inside," he said a little breathlessly.
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