Princeman was with me when the telegram came, and he told me then that you had just gone out on the trail.

I did my best to get Gifford by 'phone before you could reach him." "Father!" exclaimed Miss Josephine.
"What's the matter, Jo ?" "You say you actually tried to--to get in ahead of Mr.Turner in buying this lumber, knowing that he was going down there purposely for it ?" "Why, certainly," admitted her father.
"But did you know that I was with Mr.Turner ?" "_Why, certainly_!" "Father!" was all she could gasp, and without deigning to say good-by to Mr.Turner, or to thank him for the ride or the bouquet of branches or even the geranium slips which she had received under false pretenses, she hurried away to her room, oppressed with Heaven only knows what mortification, and also with what wonder at the ways of men! However, Princeman and Billy Westlake and young Hollis with the curly hair were impatiently waiting for Miss Josephine at the tennis court, as they informed her in a jointly signed note sent up to her by a boy, and hastily removing the dust of the road she ran down to join them.
As she went across the lawn, tennis bat in hand, Sam Turner, discussing lumber with Mr.Stevens, saw her and stopped talking abruptly to admire the trim, graceful figure.
"Does your daughter play tennis much ?" he inquired.
"A great deal," returned Mr.Stevens, expanding with pride.

"Jo's a very expert player.

She's better at it than any of these girls, and she really doesn't care to play except with experts.

Princeman, Hollis and Billy Westlake are easily the champions here." "I see," said Sam thoughtfully.
"I suppose you're a crack player yourself," his host resumed, glancing at Sam's bat.
"Me?
No, worse than a dub.