“Oh, yes, Mr. Steinberg,” said Switzer, presenting the spectacled man.
“You are too busy to show us anything this afternoon?” said Nora sweetly.
“Yes, much too busy,” said Switzer, gruffly. “I have no time for anything but work these days.”
“You cannot come along for a little shoot?” she said, innocently. Nora was evidently enjoying herself.
“Shoot!” cried Switzer in a kind of contemptuous fury. “Shoot, with these dogs, these cattle, tramping around here when they need some one every minute to drive them. Shoot! No, no. I am not a gentleman of leisure.”
The distress upon Kathleen's face was painfully apparent. Jack was in no hurry to bring relief. Like Nora he was enjoying himself as well. It was Tom who brought about the diversion.
“Well, we must go on, Switzer. Coming over to see you one of these days and go over the plant. Treasurer's got to know something about it, eh, what?”
Switzer started and looked at him in surprise. “Treasurer, who? Are you to be treasurer of the company? Who says so? Mr. Gwynne did not ask—did not tell me about it.”
“Ah, sorry—premature announcement, eh?” said Tom. “Well, good-bye. All set.”
The Packard gave forth sundry growls and snorts and glided away down the trail.