“Then my looks belie me,” Carroll replied, smiling. He offered a cigar to Lee and to the druggist, who sat next on the other side.
“Been out of town?” asked the druggist.
“Yes,” replied Carroll.
Drake looked at him hesitatingly, but Amidon, speaking stiffly and cautiously, put the question directly: “Where you been, cap'n?”
“A little journey on business,” Carroll answered, easily, lighting his cigar.
“When did you get home?” asked Amidon.
“This morning.”
“You certainly look as if you had lost flesh,” said Lee, with obsequious solicitude.
“Well, it is a hard journey to Chicago—quite a hard journey,” remarked the druggist, with cunning.
“Not on the fast train,” said Carroll.