alled man on the porch, she declared, "You're quite right, Jeff. And
Milt is wrong. Insane adventure. Only, it's wonderful to be young enough
to do insane adventures. Falling down abyssy places is so much more
interesting than bridge. I'm going--going--going!... Milt, you
telephone."

"Don't you think you better?"

"No, siree! Father would forbid me. Try not to get him--just tell Dr.
Beach where we're going, and hang up, and scoot!"

All night they drove; down the Pacific side of Blewett Pass; down the
sweeping spirals to a valley. Dlorus drowsed in the extra seat. Claire's
sleepy head was fantastically swaying. She was awakened by an
approaching roar and, as though she sat at a play, she watched a big
racing machine coming toward them, passing them with two wheels in the
ditch. She had only a thunderous glimpse of the stolid driver; a dark,
hooded, romantic figure, like a sailor at the helm in a storm.

Milt cried, "Golly! May be a transcontinental racer! Be in New York in
five days--going night and day--take mud at fifty an hour--crack
mechanic right from the factory--change tires in three minutes--people
waiting up all night to give him gasoline and a sandwich! That's my idea
of fun!"

Studying Milt's shadowed face, Claire considered, "He could do it, too.
Sitting there at the wheel, taking danger and good road with the same
steadiness. Oh, he's--well, anyway, he's a dear boy."

But what she said was:

"Less dramatic things for you, now, Milt. Trigonometry is going to be
your idea of fun; blueprints and engineering books."

"Yes. I know. I'm going to do it. Do four years' work in three--or two.
I'll tack pages of formulas on the wall, in my bum hallroom, and study
'em while I'm shaving. Oh, I'll be the grind! But learn to dance the
fox-trot, though! If America gets into the war, I'll get into the
engineering corps, and come back to school afterward."

"Will the finances----"

"I'll sell my garage, by mail. Rauskukle will take it. He won't rob me
of more than a thousand dollars on price--not much more."

"You're going to love Seattle. And we'll have some good tramps while I'm
there, you and I."

"Honestly? Will you want to?"

"Do you suppose for one second I'd give up my feeling of free air? If
you don't come and get me, I'll call on you and make you come!"

"Warn you I'll probably be living over some beanery."

"Probably. With dirty steps leading up to it. I'll sweep the steps. I'll
cook supper for