Hiram took off his hat as Miss Pringle came near. But he did not offer his hand, for he was not at all sure that her greeting was intended to be a friendly one.
"I suppose you are Mr. Strong?" the woman gasped, rather out of breath when she arrived.
"Yes, ma'am," replied Hiram.
"Well, for the land's sake, where have you been?"
"I guess I don't understand you," he said. "Are you Miss Pringle?"
"That's who I am," she declared with emphasis. "And I heard all about you from Mr. Bronson. You were comin' to stay at my house last night and you didn't come. Were you told to come to me?"
"Not exactly. I was advised to try at your house for lodging—"
"Who by?" she flashed at him.
"By the stationmaster."
"That dumbhead! I might have known Jase Oakley would ball it all up. When Mr. Bronson 'phoned to me that he could not get over in the storm to meet you at the depot, I turned right around and 'phoned Jason to tell you that I would be on the lookout for you. Didn't he tell you that, Mr. Strong?"