Page:Vance--The trey o hearts.djvu/309

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THE OLD ADAM
271

through the traces of her recent tears as she clung to her lover, nestling in the hollow of his arm. But this sight aroused Trine.

"Drive on!" he screamed to the chauffeur. "Drive on, do you hear?"

Judith had stepped up on the running-board and was eying the driver coldly, with one hand significantly resting on the butt of the weapon at her side. The car remained at a standstill.

"Where's Barcus?" Judith demanded, when, after helping Rose into the car and running back to thank their hosts, Alan returned alone to the car.

"Goodness only knows," the young man answered cheerfully. "He would insist on rambling off down the cañon in search of an alleged town where we could hire a motor-car. I daresay we'll meet him on his way back—or else asleep somewhere by the roadside!"

Taking the seat next the chauffeur, Alan gave the word to drive on, and the car slipped away from the mining-camp, saluted by cheers from the miners.

Half an hour passed without a word being spoken by any member of the party. Each was deep in his or her own especial preoccupation, Alan turning over plans for an early wedding, Rose hugging the contentment regained through her lover's protestations, Judith lost in profoundest melancholy, Trine nursing his rage, working himself up into a silent fury whose