“You have no idea, Porter, what the loss of that instrument could mean to me. You were negligent,” Mr. Lurie reiterated, not nearly so belligerently, “but the main thing is that it was found.”
Everybody smiled with relief. The train was slowing down. Judy and her parents said good-bye to their fellow passengers and a few minutes later they were standing on the platform.
Judy watched the long train slowly pull away. It took on speed and was soon lost to sight.
“Come on, Judy,” her mother called impatiently, “stop dreaming. We still have a short bus ride to Aspen.”
4
FIRST GLIMPSE OF ASPEN
The short ride to Aspen proved to be forty miles!
A tall, ungainly youth, his good-natured face topped by thick red hair, walked unerringly to the man carrying the musical instrument.
“Mr. Lurie?”
Mr. Lurie nodded.
“I’m Fran,” the boy smiled. “I’m to drive you to Aspen.”