But the use of so
much evasion, where no evasion at all seemed necessary, rather puzzled
as well as amused Caleb; and yet, after all, this merely branded him as
old-fashioned, so far as the newer business methods were concerned
which were crowding into Morrison. Allison's way of going about a
thing made him think of the old valley road that wound north in its
series of loops on loops; and yet, reflecting upon that parallel, he
had to admit to himself, too, that the road achieved final heights
which, in a straightaway route across country would have necessitated
more than a few wearisome and heart-breaking grades.
The comparison pleased Caleb. He was nodding his head over it as he
buried his nose in the mint-sprayed glass again, when a haze of dust to
the north caught his vagrant attention. Quite apparently it was raised
by a foot-traveler, and the latter were not frequent upon that road,
especially foot-travelers who came from that direction. Trivial as it
was, it piqued his interest, and he lay back and followed it from
lazily half-closed eyes. It topped a rise and disappeared--the dust
cloud--and reappeared in turn, but not until it had advanced to within
a scant hundred yards of him could he make out the figure which raised
it. And then, after one sharp glance, with a quick intake of breath,
he rose and went a trifle hastily out across his own lawn toward the
iron picket fence that bordered the roadside.
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