Superintendent has to say."
"You needn't trouble yourself," I remarked, but he followed us into
the station. I was disgusted, but at the same time it seemed to me
that he had come because he was jealous; and that wasn't an unpleasant
thought. Whatever his motive, he was a third party in the writing of
that telegram, and had to stand by while Miss Cullen and I discussed
and draughted it. I didn't try to make it any too brief, not merely
asking for a guard and when I might expect it, but giving as well a
pretty full history of the case, which was hardly necessary.
"You'll bankrupt yourself," laughed Madge. "You must let us pay."
"I'll let you pay, Miss Cullen, if you want," I offered. "How much is
it, Welply?" I asked, shoving the blanks in to the operator.
"Nothin' for a lady," said Welply, grinning.
"There, Miss Cullen," I asked, "does the East come up to that in
gallantry?"
"Do you really mean that there is no charge?" demanded Madge,
incredulously, with her purse in her hand.
"That's the size of it," said the operator.
"I'm not going to believe that!" cried Madge. "I know you are only
deceiving me, and I really want to pay."
I laughed as I said, "Sometimes railroad superintendents can send
messages free, Miss Cullen."
"How silly of me!" exclaimed Madge. Then she remarked, "How nice it is
to be a railroad superintendent, Mr. Gordon! I should like to be one
myself."
That speech really lifted me off my feet, but while I was thinking
what response to make, I came down to earth with a bounce.
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