“You don’t say?” Elinor replied, assuming an attitude of complete ignorance. “When did you buy it?”
“Oh—er—before I left Pensacola, I think.”
“As long ago as that?” she asked. “Why, I should think you would have sent it to her by this time.”
“Yeah, I should have, only—well—I just don’t seem to find the time!”
“Then supposing you give me her address and I’ll send it for you,” she suggested mischievously. “If you carry it around with you, you may lose it.”
Panama’s cheeks flushed and he bit his lips, looking at Elinor appealingly and wondering to himself what kind of a jam he was in for now.
“No—I—er—I’ve kept it so long and—well—I guess we’ll he goin’ back soon and——”
“Sergeant Williams!” he heard a familiar voice call, and looking just ahead, saw Steve Graham running toward them.
Though he had never liked this product of the San Francisco pool parlors, at that particular moment, he welcomed the boy’s arrival with open arms, knowing that the intrusion would relieve him of having to make further explanations regarding the ring.
“What do you want, Graham?”