Dorothy spied the Fire Bird just as it turned in at the entrance gate. And she identified the person sitting beside her chum, too. Therefore, she had a few minutes in which to prepare for her meeting with Garry Knapp.
She was on the porch when the car stopped, and her welcome to the young Westerner possessed just the degree of cordiality that it should. Neither by word nor look did she betray the fact that her heart’s action was accelerated, or that she felt a thrill of joy to think that the first of her moves in this intricate game had been successful.
“Of course, it would be Tavia’s good fortune to pick you up at the station,” she said, while Garry held her hand just a moment longer than was really necessary for politeness’ sake. “Had you telegraphed us——”
“I hadn’t a thought that I was going to run up against Miss Travers or you, Miss Dale,” he said.
“Oh, then, this is a business visit?” and she laughed. “Entirely? You only wish to see Major Dale?”
“Well—now—that’s unfair,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “But I told Miss Travers she might drive me to the hotel.”
“Oh, this will be your hotel while you remain, of course. Father would not hear of anything else I am sure.”
“I can thank you, then, Miss Dale,” he said quietly and with a sudden serious mien, “for the chance to sell my ranch at a better price than those sharks were ready to give?”
“No. You may thank Major Dale’s bump of acquisitiveness,” she said, laughing at him over her shoulder as she led the way into the house. “Having so much land already out there, like other great property owners, he is always looking for more.”
If Garry Knapp was not assured that she was entirely frank upon this matter, he knew that his welcome was as warm as though he were really an old friend. He met Mrs. White almost at once, and Dorothy was delighted by her marked approval of him.