The man was in the main a good-natured fellow and loyal to his friends; but this did not preclude any virulent criticism of others, and for a moment he hated this bronze-faced stranger, and even saw blemishes in the handsome woman's beauty.

"That may be YOUR idea of an Eastern man," he said bluntly, "but I kin tell ye that Californy ain't run on those lines.

No, sir." Nevertheless, his curiosity got the better of his ill humor, and as the coach at last pulled up at the cross-road for Demorest to descend he smiled affably at his departing companion.
"You allowed just now that you'd bin five years away.

Whar mout ye have bin ?" "In Europe," said Demorest pleasantly.
"I reckoned ez much," returned his interrogator, smiling significantly at the other passengers.

"But in what place ?" "Oh, many," said Demorest, smiling also.
"But what place war ye last livin' at ?" "Well," said Demorest, descending the steps, but lingering for a moment with his hand on the door of the coach, "oddly enough, now you remind me of it--at Hymettus!" He closed the door, and the coach rolled on.