"Prairie land. Soil reports and surveys were furnished. I discounted them fifty per cent, and still thought it a good investment."
"Did the fact that—Senator Fairclothe recommended the land influence you?"
"Why, certainly. He's a United States Senator."
She turned swiftly toward the Egret, but not swiftly enough to hide the flush that rushed to her cheeks.
"I hope—I do hope you are not disappointed," she said.
Her laughter of a moment before, penetrating to the cabin of the Egret, had brought a tall, thin woman, the sun glinting on the diamond pendants in her ears, out from a stateroom forward.
"Ah, my dear Annette!"
"Aunty! You awake so early?"
"The climate has made me young. Come aboard, dear. We sail at once."
The girl hesitated. Her tone was indefinable as she asked: "Is—Mr.
Garman——?"