o mind to be mixed up in a fight on
the street. He hooked up the colts and drove down to the landing,
hearing as he did so the deep bellow of the river steamer's whistle.
When he got the colts tied and went out on the wharf the boat had
already docked. Behind a group of passengers a girl was bending over a
couple of grips. Her back was toward Angus, and never doubting that it
was Jean, he reached down with one hand for a grip, while he slipped his
other arm around her waist.

"Hello, old girl!" he said. But to his utter amazement, as she snapped
erect in the crook of his arm, it was not Jean at all. This girl was
taller, black of hair and blue of eye. For a moment he did not recognize
her, and then he knew her for Kathleen French, whom he had not seen for
more than a year. "Oh," he said blankly, "it's you!"

"I think so," she said dryly. "I can stand without being held, thanks."

Angus dropped his arm from her waist, blushing.

"I thought you were Jean. I'm awfully sorry."

Kathleen French's dark blue eyes looked him up and down, and to his
relief she seemed more amused than angry.

"But your sister wasn't on the boat. It's nice to be welcomed by
somebody." She frowned, glancing down the wharf. "Have you seen any of
my brothers? Somebody should be here to meet me."

"Blake is in town. I haven't seen any of the other boys."

"Then why isn't Blake here?" she demanded.

"I don't know," Angus returned. "It's not my fault, is it?"

"No, of course not. He was to be here--or somebody was--and drive me
out. I suppose I'll have to go somewhere and wait his pleasure. Where is
he, do you know?"

"Why--" Angus began doubtfully, and stopped.

"Look here," said Kathleen French, "has Blake been drinking?"

"I think he could drive all right."

"Pig! Brute!" Blake's sister ejaculated viciously. "He couldn't keep
sober, even to meet me. Didn't think I mattered, I suppose. I'll show
him. Able to drive, is he? Well, he isn't able to drive me. I'll get a
livery rig."

"I will drive you out."

"That's good of you. But it's out of your way."

"It will do the colts good--take the edge off them. But I don't know
what to do about Jean. She was to have come on this boat."

"She must have missed it. Likely she will be on the next."

This seemed probable. As there was nothing to be done about it, Angus
went for Kathleen's trunk. He wheeled it on a truck to the rig, picked
it up and deposited it in the wagon back of the seat w