The porter was just picking up the stepping down bench when Gloria turned toward the parlor car. Between her and that point Mr. Thorpe now trundled the big baggage cart, but still, a person could be seen coming toward the station if one such there might have been.
That she had not come seemed almost too good to be true. It was, for just at the side of the station, where Dave’s taxi stood, Gloria beheld a strange woman.
She was talking excitedly to Dave. The next moment she would be in his car!
“That’s she!” said Gloria aloud, turning instantly toward the street side of the station.
Dave opened the taxi door, the woman put up one foot——
“Dave!” called Gloria shrilly. “Wait a minute!”
“All full up!” he flung back. The woman was now spreading herself on the spacious back seat.
“Wait!” shouted Gloria. “I—want—you!”
Her anxiety to stop him shaded her first fears. She rushed up to the car, prepared even to jump on the running board did he attempt to start before she could speak.
But the veteran driver, rival of Sam, and open enemy of George Thorpe, recognized excitement when he saw it, and he stopped with his hand on the wheel and his foot over the “gas.”