CHAPTER IV HARVEY MEETS "A DEALER IN CATTLE" Harvey threw the reins into Grogan's lap and strode recklessly after Elsie. His good-natured face was flushed with anger. "Say," he demanded, "what's the matter?" The girl, unwilling, halted. "Nothing," she replied, "what makes you ask that?" "Why," explained Harvey, hiding his anger and attempting to take her hand, "you're out of breath." "Been running," was the girl's laconic explanation. "You don't usually run home from the mill, Elsie," Harvey's detective instinct was showing itself. Elsie was extremely irritated by this unwished for interview. "Well, I--" she stammered, "I wanted to get here because it's Monday and mother's washing day and--" She paused, her irritation getting the better of her. "I don't see what right you have to question me, Harvey Spencer." Grogan had got down from the wagon and at this moment came through the gate. "Young man," he began, addressing Spencer. The girl interrupted him. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Do you come from the mill?" "I come from no mill," retorted Grogan, piqued by the girl's tone, "and if you'll excuse me I don't want to." "This is Mr. Michael Grogan of Chicago," put in Harvey placatingly. "I've been showing him the town." "And," added Grogan quickly, "I haven't seen much." "That's not at all strange," said Elsie, "because there's nothing to see." "And in Chicago, where I come from," said Grogan sagely, "there's altogether too much." Grogan saw by his two companions' faces that he was an intruder. "Young man," he said, "I don't think I'll wait for you. I've some letters to write at the hotel. I think I'll be strolling along." "Why," said Harvey, hospitable in the face of intrusion, "you're welcome to ride. Won't you wait?" "No, thanks," said Grogan, "that grocery wagon of yours wasn't built to accommodate a man of my size." Harvey and the girl watched Grogan disappear in the dusk. Then the young man turned to the girl. "Elsie--" he began tenderly. But the girl stopped him. "Now don't begin to question me," she ordered. "I won't answer." "You are trying to hide something from me," said Harvey, grasping the girl's unwilling hand. The girl drew away from him. "That's not true," she said. "I don't want you to bother me." "I never used to bother you," said Harvey, his face flushing. "That was before--" began Elsie impulsively. "I mean now," she went on, catching herself. "I mean that you do now because you have changed." "No," contradicted Harvey, "but you have." "What do you mean by that?" challenged the girl. Harvey stood silent for a moment and jerked out a laugh of embarrassment. "I don't know exactly what I mean," he said, "but you know we were engaged." Elsie flushed. "We were not," she said.