"Tag him as being intelligent, a keen observer, with the ability to express himself--" She broke off, and turned her head ungraciously toward the sounder, which seemed to be repeating something over and over with a good deal of insistence.

"That's Shoshone calling," she said, frowning attentively.

"They've got an old crank up there in the office--I'd know his touch among a million--and when he calls he means business.

I'll have to speak up, I suppose." She sighed, tucked a chocolate into her cheek, and went scowling to the table.

"Can't the idiot see I'm out ?" she complained whimsically.