“No secret about that,” Speed Samson, the aviator, smiled. “I’m a guide. Take people up into the mountains for fish and game. Just left a party up there. Going back in a week. It’s wonderful up there. Snow. Cold. Refreshing. Great! Want to go along?” He looked at Florence.
“Why, I—” she hesitated.
“Take you all,” his eyes swept them in a circle.
“Can’t be done just now. Thanks all the same.” It was Mark who spoke. “We’re new here. Lots to do. Adventure will have to wait.
“Of course,” he hastened to add, “I’m not talking for Florence.”
“Oh, yes, you are!” the big girl flashed back. “I’m in this game the same as you, at least until snow flies.”
“O. K.!” the aviator laughed. “When snow flies I’ll be back. Winter up here is the time for adventure.” He was looking now at Mary, whose dark eyes shone like twin stars. “I’ll take you for a long, long ride.”
At that instant something rattled against the windowpane. Was it sleet driven by the rain or was it some spirit tapping a message, trying to tell Mary how long and eventful that ride would really be?
Next day the smiling aviator went sailing away into a clear blue sky. Florence and Mary went back to their work, but things were not quite the same. They never are after one has dreamed a bright dream.
Three days later, Florence got her fish, or was it his brother? He weighed twenty pounds. Of course that called for one more feast. Fortunately, one who works hard may enjoy a feast every day in the year and never waste much time. Truth is, only one who does work hard can truly enjoy any feast to its full. The Hughes family enjoyed both work and wonderful food.