"I'm sure you and Lord
Ralles will be company enough for each other," she predicted, giving
me a flash of her eyes which showed them full of suppressed merriment,
even while her face was grave.
In spite of her prediction, the moment she was gone Lord Ralles and I
pulled apart about as quickly as a yard-engine can split a couple of
cars.
I moped around for an hour, too unsettled mentally to do anything but
smoke, and only waiting for an invitation or for some excuse to go
into 218. About eleven o'clock I obtained the latter in another
telegram, and went into the car at once.
"Telegram received," I read triumphantly. "A detail of two companies
of the Twelfth Cavalry, under the command of Captain Singer, is
ordered to Ash Fork, and will start within an hour, arriving at five
o'clock. C.D. OLMSTEAD, Adjutant."
"That won't do, Gordon," cried Mr. Cullen. "The mandamus will be here
before that."
"Oh, don't say there is something more wrong!" sighed Madge.
"Won't it be safer to run while there is still time?" suggested
Albert, anxiously.
"I was born lazy about running away," I said.
"Oh, but please, just for once," Madge begged. "We know already how
brave you are."
I thought for a moment, not so much objecting, in truth, to the
running away as to the running away from Madge.
"I'd do it for you," I said, looking at Miss Cullen so that she
understood this time what I meant, without my using any emphasis, "but
I don't see any need of making myself uncomfortable, when I can make
the other side so.
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