is full of
mischief, and the temptation to her to let you deceive yourself was too
great, that's all. If I could go without sacrificing the interests of
all of us in the reorganization I shouldn't ask you to go."

"Let it pass."

The day had been planned for the little reception to the visitors. The
arrival of two more private cars had added the directors, the hunting
party and more women to the company. The women were to drive during
the day, and the men had arranged to inspect the roundhouse, the shops,
and the division terminals and to meet the heads of the operating
department.

In the evening the railroad men were to call on their guests at the
train. This was what Glover had hoped he should escape until Bucks
arriving in the morning asked him not only to attend the reception but
to pilot Mr. Brock's own party through a long mountain trip. To
consent to the former request after agreeing to the latter was of
slight consequence.

In the evening the special train twinkling across the yard looked as
pretty as a dream. The luxury of the appointments, subdued by softened
lights, and the simple hospitality of the Pittsburgers--those people
who understand so well how to charm and bow to repel--was a new note to
the mountain men. If self-consciousness was felt by the least of them
at the door it could hardly pass Mr. Brock within; his cordiality was
genuine.

Following Bucks came some of his mountain staff, whom he introduced to
the men whose interests they now represented. Morris Blood, the
superintendent, was among those he brought forward, and he presented
him as a young railroad man and a rising one. Glover followed because
he was never very far from the mountain superintendent and the general
manager when the two were in sight.

For Glover there was an uncomfortable moment prospect, and it came
almost at once. Mr. Brock, in meeting him as the chief of construction
who was to take the party on the mountain trip, left his place and took
him with Blood black to his own car to be introduced to his sister,
Mrs. Whitney. The younger Miss Brock, Marie, the invalid, a
sweet-faced girl, rose to meet the two men. Mrs. Whitney introduced
them to Miss Donner. At the table Gertrude Brock was watching a waiter
from the dining-car who was placing a coffee urn.

She turned to meet the young men that were coming forward with her
father, and Glover thought the awful moment was upon him; yet it
happened that he was