The girl's voice was colorless, and she did not look at Rufus who regarded her uncertainly.
"All right," he said at last. "Perhaps it would be as well to wait till some day we're in town and you can talk to 'em. I'll wire for some eats anyway."
When they reached the village the car stopped before the telegraph-office. Carder left the car, and at the mere temporary relief of him Geraldine's heart lightened. A wild wish swept through her that she knew how to drive and could put on all the power and drive away, even kidnapping the shrunken, beshawled slave in the tonneau.
But the thought of the dusty knight intervened. If she were going to betray her father, let it be under his guidance whatever that might be. She could not do it, though. She could not!
A man loafing on the walk saw Mrs. Carder and, stopping, addressed her with some country greeting. Geraldine instantly turned to him.
"Where is Keefe?" she asked quickly.
"What?" he returned stupidly, with a curious gaze at her lovely, eager face.
"Keefe. The village of Keefe. Where is it?"
"Oh, that's yonder," said the man, pointing. "T'other side o' the mountain."
She turned to Mrs. Carder. "I have a friend who lives there, a very good friend whom I would like to see."