Just then, her eyes fell upon a small, sparkling object a few inches from where she was resting on her knees. She reached forward and picked up the ring in her hand, unnoticed by Panama who was still delving into the grass by the roadway. She rose to her feet and looked at the small diamond, suddenly struck by the realization that he had brought her all the way out here, hoping to gain enough courage to propose. Her eyes softened and she gazed down at Panama tenderly, shaking her head as she sympathized with the man over the futility of his hopes just as she pitied herself over her own failure to win Lefty. “Panama,” she said sweetly, with a ring of tolerance in her voice. The man turned about, fumbling nervously with his hands as he noticed the telltale object she was holding in the palm of her outstretched hand. “Is this what you’ve been looking for?” she asked, pretending to be ignorant of the ring’s true purpose. “Why, yeah—sure!” he replied, clumsily bringing himself to his feet again and unable to look at her. “I—er—I can’t imagine how it could have fallen out of my pocket!” “The way we came, past the Mission,” she asked, “that’s the shortest road back, isn’t it?” “Oh, sure, if you want to go that way,” he announced, putting the ring away in the pocket of his blouse, glad to once more have it out of sight. “I—I think we’d better,” she said, “I’ve had a long trip and——” “I understand, and I’m pretty tired now, anyway,” he interrupted, turning about and leading her back the way they had come, still conscious of the faux pas he made regarding the engagement ring, “You know somethin’?” “What?” “That ring I lost—” he stammered. “Well, I bought that for—er—my aunt!” “You don’t say?” Elinor replied, assuming an attitude of complete ignorance. “When did you buy it?” “Oh—er—before I left Pensacola, I think.” “As long ago as that?” she asked. “Why, I should think you would have sent it to her by this time.” “Yeah, I should have, only—well—I just don’t seem to find the time!” “Then supposing you give me her address and I’ll send it for you,” she suggested mischievously. “If you carry it around with you, you may lose it.” Panama’s cheeks flushed and he bit his lips, looking at Elinor appealingly and wondering to himself what kind of a jam he was in for now. “No—I—er—I’ve kept it so long and—well—I guess we’ll he goin’ back soon and——” “Sergeant Williams!” he heard a familiar voice call, and looking just ahead, saw Steve Graham running toward them. Though he had never liked this product of the San Francisco pool parlors, at that particular moment, he welcomed the boy’s arrival with open arms, knowing that the intrusion would relieve him of having to make further explanations regarding the ring. “What do you want, Graham?” The boy came up alongside of them and seeing Elinor, touched the peak of his cap with his hand as she smiled in acknowledgment. “Can I see you for a minute, sergeant?”