"No, I'm sorry, but Mary isn't in," said Mrs.
Nestor, answering his inquiry after greeting him.
"Not at home?"
"No, she went on a little visit to her cousin's at
Fayetteville. She said something about letting
you know she was going."
"She did drop me a card," answered Tom, and,
somehow he did not feel at all cheerful. "But
I thought it wasn't until next week she was
going."
"That was her plan, Tom. But she changed
it. Her cousin wired, asking her to advance
the date, and this Mary did. There was something
about a former school chum who was also
to be at Myra's house--Myra is Mary's cousin
you know."
"Yes, I know," assented the young inventor.
"And so Mary is gone. How long is she going
to stay?"
"Oh, about two weeks. She wasn't quite
certain. It depends on the kind of a time she has,
I suppose."
"Yes, I suppose so," agreed Tom. "Well, if
you write before I do you might say I called,
Mrs. Nestor."
"I will, Tom. And I know Mary will be sorry
she wasn't here to take a ride with you; it's
such a nice day," and the lady smiled as she
looked at the speedy roadster.
"Maybe--maybe you'd like to come for a spin?"
asked Tom, half desperately.
"No, thank you. I'm too old to be jounced
around in one of those small cars."
"Nonsense! She rides as easily as a Pullman
sleeper."
"Well, I have to go to a Red Cross meeting,
anyhow, so I can't come, Tom. Thank you,
just the same."
Tom did not drive back immediately to his
home.
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