CHAPTER XII.
ANOTHER MISSED APPOINTMENT The trio from Meadow Brook, on their way to Sunset Rock galloped up to the Hollis Creek porch, and, finding Miss Stevens there, gaily demanded that she accompany them.
"I'm sorry," said Miss Stevens, who was already in driving costume, "but I have an engagement at ten o'clock," and she looked back through the window into the office, where the clock then stood at two minutes of the appointed time; then she looked rather impatiently down the driveway, as she had been doing for the past five minutes.
"Well, at least you'll come back to the bar with us and have an ice-cream cocktail," insisted Princeman, reining up close to the porch and putting his hand upon the rail in front of her.
"I don't see how I can refuse that," said Miss Stevens with a smile and another glance down at the driveway, "although it's really a little early in the day to begin drinking," and she waited for them to dismount, going back with them into the little ice-cream parlor and "soft drink" and confectionery dispensary which had been facetiously dubbed "the bar." Here she was careful to secure a seat where she could look out of the window down toward the road, and also see the clock.
After a weary while, during which Miss Josephine had undergone a variety of emotions which she was very careful not to mention, the party rose from the discussion of their ice-cream soda and the bowling tournament and all the various other social interests of the two resorts, and made ready to depart, Miss Westlake twining her arm about the waist of her friend Miss Stevens as they emerged on the porch.
"Well, anyway, we've made you forget your engagement," Miss Westlake gaily boasted, "for you said it was to be at ten, and now it's ten-thirty." "Yes, I noticed the time," admitted Miss Stevens, rather grudgingly.
"I'm sorry we dragged you away," commiserated Miss Westlake with a swift change of tone.

"Probably the party of the second part didn't know where to find you." "No, it couldn't be anything like that," decided Miss Josephine after a thoughtful pause.

"Did you see anything of Mr.Turner this morning ?" she asked with sudden resolve.
"Mr.Turner," repeated Miss Westlake in well-feigned surprise.

"Why, yes, I know papa said early this morning that he was going to have a business talk with Mr.Turner, and as we left Meadow Brook papa was just going after his hat to take a drive with him." "I wonder if it would be an imposition to ask you to wait about five minutes longer," inquired Miss Stevens with a languidness which did _not_ deceive.

"I think I can change to my riding-habit almost within that time." "We'll be delighted to wait," asserted Miss Westlake eagerly, herself looking apprehensively down the driveway; "won't we, boys ?" "Sure; what is it ?" returned Princeman.
"Josephine says that if we'll wait five minutes longer she'll go with us." "We'll wait an hour if need be," declared Princeman gallantly.
"It won't need be," said Miss Stevens lightly, and hurrying into the office she ordered the clerk to send for her saddle-horse.
For ten interminable minutes Miss Westlake never took her eyes from the road, at the end of which time Miss Stevens returned, hatted and habited and booted and whipped.
The Hollis Creek young lady was rather grim as she rode down the graveled approach beside Miss Westlake, and both the girls cast furtive glances behind them as they turned away from the Meadow Brook road.
When they were safely out of sight around the next bend, Miss Westlake laughed.
"Mr.Turner is such a funny person," said she.