o Chicago, I suppose. Where else would we be going?" Thea hunted for a
handkerchief in her handbag.

"I wasn't sure, so I had the trunks checked to Albuquerque. We can
recheck there to Chicago, if you like. Why Chicago? You'll never go back
to Bowers. Why wouldn't this be a good time to make a run for it? We
could take the southern branch at Albuquerque, down to El Paso, and then
over into Mexico. We are exceptionally free. Nobody waiting for us
anywhere."

Thea sighted along the steel rails that quivered in the light behind
them. "I don't see why I couldn't marry you in Chicago, as well as any
place," she brought out with some embarrassment.

Fred took the handbag out of her nervous clasp and swung it about on his
finger. "You've no particular love for that spot, have you? Besides, as
I've told you, my family would make a row. They are an excitable lot.
They discuss and argue everlastingly. The only way I can ever put
anything through is to go ahead, and convince them afterward."

"Yes; I understand. I don't mind that. I don't want to marry your
family. I'm sure you wouldn't want to marry mine. But I don't see why we
have to go so far."

"When we get to Winslow, you look about the freight yards and you'll
probably see several yellow cars with my name on them. That's why, my
dear. When your visiting-card is on every beer bottle, you can't do
things quietly. Things get into the papers." As he watched her troubled
expression, he grew anxious. He leaned forward on his camp-chair, and
kept twirling the handbag between his knees. "Here's a suggestion,
Thea," he said presently. "Dismiss it if you don't like it: suppose we
go down to Mexico on the chance. You've never seen anything like Mexico
City; it will be a lark for you, anyhow. If you change your mind, and
don't want to marry me, you can go back to Chicago, and I'll take a
steamer from Vera Cruz and go up to New York. When I get to Chicago,
you'll be at work, and nobody will ever be the wiser. No reason why we
shouldn't both travel in Mexico, is there? You'll be traveling alone.
I'll merely tell you the right places to stop, and come to take you
driving. I won't put any pressure on you. Have I ever?" He swung the bag
toward her and looked up under her hat.

"No, you haven't," she murmured. She was thinking that her own position
might be less difficult if he had used what he called pressure. He
clearly wished her to take the responsibility.

"You have your own fut