\"I’mnotsurethatit’stheworstkindofluck，\"returnedDemorest，withpersistentgravity；\"andIsupposehe’ssatisfiedwithit。\"
Butsoheterodoxanopiniononlyirritatedhisantagonistthemore，especiallyashenoticedthatthehandsomewomaninthebackseatappearedtobeinterestedintheconversation，andevensympatheticwithDemorest。Themanwasinthemainagood-naturedfellowandloyaltohisfriends；butthisdidnotprecludeanyvirulentcriticismofothers，andforamomenthehatedthisbronze-facedstranger，andevensawblemishesinthehandsomewoman’sbeauty。
\"ThatmaybeYOURideaofanEasternman，\"hesaidbluntly，\"butI
kintellyethatCalifornyain’trunonthoselines。No，sir。\"
Nevertheless，hiscuriositygotthebetterofhisillhumor，andasthecoachatlastpulledupatthecross-roadforDemoresttodescendhesmiledaffablyathisdepartingcompanion。