"You know, you weren't very polite to me," she remarked, glancing at him
slantwise as he stood before her.
If she expected apologies, she was disappointed, and perhaps thought
none the less of him for his dereliction.
"There's trouble all up and down the line," he said. "Nothing like a
schedule left west of Allbright. Two passenger trains have come through,
though. Would you like to see a paper? It's in my office."
"Goodness, no! Why should I want a newspaper here? I haven't time for
it. I want to see the world"--she swept a little, indicating hand about
her; "all that I can take in in a day."
"A day?" he echoed.
"Yes. I'm going to-morrow."
"That's as may be. Ten to one there's no space to be had."
"Surely you can get something for me. A section will do if you can't get
a stateroom."
He smiled. "The president of the road might get a stateroom. I doubt if
anybody else could even land an upper. Of course I'll do my best. But
it's a question when there'll be another train through."
"What ails your road?" she demanded indignantly. "Is it just stuck
together with glue?"
"You've never seen this desert country when it springs a leak. It can
develop a few hundred Niagaras at the shortest notice of any place I
know.
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