"Come, Ellen, quit this nonsense! What did he say to
you?"
"If you mean Mr. Orr--"
He turned his eyes from the road to stare at her for an instant.
"Did he tell you his name was Orr?" he asked sharply.
It was Ellen's turn to stare.
"Why, if he is Miss Orr's father--" she began.
"Oh, of course," said Jim hurriedly. "I was just wondering if he had
introduced himself."
Ellen was silent. She was convinced that there was some mystery about
the pale old man.
"He said a lot of awfully queer things to me," she admitted, after a
pause during which Jim turned the car into a side road.... "I thought
you were going to the village."
"This will take us to the village--give you a longer ride, Ellen.
I'll take you home afterwards."
"After what?"
"Why, after we've got the mail--or whatever you want."
"Don't you think Miss Orr and that queer old Mr. ---- If his name
isn't Orr, Jim, what is it?" She shot a quick glance at him.
"Good Lord!" muttered Jim profanely.
He drew the car up at the side of the road and stopped it.
"What are you going to do?" inquired Ellen, in some alarm. "Won't it
go?"
"When I get ready," said Jim.
He turned and faced her squarely:
"We'll have this out, before we go a foot further! I won't have the
whole town talking," he said savagely.
Ellen said nothing. She was rather angry.
"The devil!" cried Jim Dodge. "What's the matter with you, Ellen?"
"With me?" she repeated.
"Yes. Why can't you talk?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
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