Dusk was coming on,
and he had to light one of the side-lamps to serve as a lantern. By
changing the wiring he was finally able to evoke a desultory response
from the spark-coil, and a little later to start the motor after some
limping fashion.
"Oh, my poor dinner!" said Miss Anners, who was still in the
light-hearted mood; this after Blount's careful nursing had resulted in
a creeping resumption of the cityward progress. And then: "I hope you
didn't have any engagement for this evening?"
"I have but one ambition in life," he rejoined grimly, "and that is to
get you back to the hotel in time for your engagement. Surely Mrs.
Blount will wait for you."
At the rate they were going the waiting promised to be long. But after
another half-hour had been killed, the headlights of a westward-driven
car appeared in the road ahead. Blount pulled quickly into the ditch and
jumped out to flag the oncoming machine; did flag it, and was able to
borrow a set of batteries. With the new equipment the remainder of the
drive was accomplished swiftly, but not swiftly enough. At the
Inter-Mountain they found that the senator and Mrs. Honoria had gone to
keep their dinner engagement, and a note in the little lady's
copperplate handwriting informed Blount that the invitation had been
made to include him, and that he was to hurry and bring Patricia.
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