"I shall be obliged to escort you from the grounds, you know."
"Yes, I know," she said agreeably. He looked dazed and delighted. "Of course, I shall come with stealth and darkly. Not even my brother shall know of my plans."
"Certainly not," he said with alacrity. (They were nearing the line.)
"Depend on me."
"Depend on you? Your only duty is to scare me off the place."
"That's what I mean. I'll keep sharp watch for you up at the haunted house."
"It's more than a mile from the line," she advised him.
"Yes, I know," said he, with his friendliest smile. "Oh, by the way, would you mind doing your brother a favor, Miss Drake? Give him this watch. He—er—he must have dropped it while pursuing me."
"You ran?" she accepted the watch with surprise and unbelief.
"Here is the line, Miss Drake," he evaded. "Consider yourself ignominiously ejected. Have I been unnecessarily rough and expeditious?"
"You have had a long and tiresome walk," she said, settling herself for a merry clip. "Please don't step on our side." He released the bridle rein and doffed his hat.