"I hope you'll sit next to us, Tom," said Jennie Watson.
"I will, if I can."
It happened that Milton Graham entered the saloon at the same time with the new friends. He took the seat next to Jennie, much to that young lady's annoyance.
"Will you be kind enough to take the next seat?" she asked. "That young gentleman is to sit next to me."
"I am sorry to resign the pleasure, but anything to oblige," said Graham. "Tom, I congratulate you," he continued, with a disagreeable smile.
"Thank you," said our hero briefly.
"He calls you Tom. Does he know you?" inquired Jennie, in a low voice.
"I made his acquaintance yesterday for the first time."
"I don't like his looks; do you?"
"Wait till after dinner and I will tell you," said Tom, fearing that Graham would hear.