to me I've
been taking everything too seriously to suit you, till just this
minute. I've been pretty serious, let me tell you, about making good,
and now I can see my way clear for the first time since all those
horses were run off right under my nose, while I was busy with my
airplane, getting it in shape to fly. You've been after me all the
time because I couldn't let things slide. Don't you think, Mary V,
you're kinda changeable?"

Mary V gave him a quick, intent look and bit her lower lip. "I only
wish I could change you a little bit," she retorted. "I don't want to
be disagreeable, Johnny, after you were given up for lost and
everything, and then turned out to be all right. But that's just the
trouble! You--"

"The trouble is that I wasn't killed? Good golly!"

"No, I don't mean that at all. But we thought you were, and everybody
in the country was simply frantic, and you weren't even--"

"Huh!" Johnny got up, plainly hesitating between dignified retreat and
another profitless argument with Mary V. Another, because his
acquaintance with her had been one long series of arguments, it seemed
to him; and profitless, because Mary V simply would not be logical, or
ever stick to one contention, but instead would change her attack in
the most bewildering manner.

"I'm very sorry," he said stiffly, "that the whole country was frantic
without due cause. But I never asked them to take it upon themselves
to get all fussed up because I happened to be late for my meals. I was
foolish enough to take it for granted that a man has a right to go
about his business without asking permission of the general public. I
didn't know the public had my welfare on its mind like that. I'll have
to call a meeting after this, I reckon, and put it to vote whether I
can please go up in my little airplane. Or maybe the public will pass
the hat around and buy a string to tie on to me, so I can't get too far
away. Then they can take turns holding the string and pull me down
when they think I've been up long enough! Darned boobs--what did they
want to get up searching parties for? Couldn't they find anything else
to do, for gosh sake?"

"Why, Johnny Jewel!" Righteous indignation brought Mary V to her feet,
trembling a little but with the undaunted spirit of her fighting
forebears shining in her eyes. "Johnny Jewel, you silly, ungrateful
boy! What if you had been hurt somewhere? You'd have been glad enough
then for the pu