“How could he live and cross the desert alone!” inquired Mary Louise.
“That’s what’s driving me distracted,” cried Danny, pacing up and down the garden path. “If he once got near his old stamping ground, he could find friends to shelter him. He’s done favors for every man within a hundred miles of his place. If I could only be around the country there, I know he’d find it out and would get word to me! But how to get there when I’ve told your grandfather I’d help him through the summer.”
Utterly distressed and undecided, Danny leaned against the door and gazed off at the far horizon. All in a breath an inspiration came to Mary Louise. Her eyes glowed like stars and her little hands stretched out to Danny in joyous appeal as she ran towards him.
“Listen,” she cried, “for months we’ve so wanted to take a trip, but of course the war has cut us off from Europe, and I couldn’t drive the car so very far. Now, Danny, we have you to take us and you’re going to drive us touring through the West.”
A quick flush of hope and delight spread over Danny Dexter’s expressive face. Mary Louise noticed it and rejoiced.
“Yes, yes,” she cried, her plans growing and expanding with each moment. “Grandfather will be more than glad to get away, and we’ll take Irene McFarlane with us. Think what it would mean to her!”
“But,” argued Danny, “we might have to spend some time in the desert, if Uncle Jim should need us. It would be disagreeable for you, wouldn’t it?”
“No, no, I just love the desert,” contradicted Mary Louise; “I love the glow of the sand and the mystery of the distance. Why, Danny, I hope we stay in the desert! Is it a bargain?”
Mary Louise turned a sparkling face up to him and Danny Dexter could resist no longer. “If your grandfather agrees, it’s a go,” he admitted, and then and there they joyously shook hands on it.
Colonel Hathaway, turning a corner in the garden path, was greeted by a call from his lovely granddaughter as she came flying toward him.