CHAPTER XVI
Early one August evening Lane went out to find a cool misty rain blowing down from the hills. At the inn he encountered Colonel Pepper, who wore a most woebegone and ludicrous expression. He pounced at once upon Lane.
"Daren, what do you think?" he wailed, miserably.
"I don't think. I know. You've gone and done it—pulled that stunt of yours again," returned Lane.
"Yes—but oh, so much worse this time."
"Worse! How could it be worse, unless you mean some one punched your head."
"No. That would have been nothing.... Daren, this—this time I—it was a lady!" gasped Pepper.
"Oh, say now, Pepper—not really?" queried Lane, incredulously.
"It was. And a lady I—I admire very much."
"Who?"
"Miss Amanda Hill."
"The schoolteacher? Nice little woman like that! Pepper, why couldn't
