Aunt Mary triumphed. Her snore rose to shatter the smoky roof. Three times Minot dared to look, and each time wished he hadn't. The whole sky was rosy now. Somewhere off behind the horizon the good old sun was rising to go to work for the passenger department of the coast railroad. Some sense in looking out now. Minot saw a shack that seemed familiar--then another. Next a station, bearing on its sad shingle the cheery name of "Sunbeam." And close to the station, gloomy in the dawn, a desiccated chauffeur beside an aged automobile. Minot turned quickly, and caught Cynthia Meyrick in the act of peering over his shoulder. She had seen the chauffeur too. The train had stopped a moment, but was under way again. In those brown eyes Minot saw something wistful, something hurt,--saw things that moved him to put everything to a sudden test. He leaped to his feet and pulled madly at the bell cord. "What--what have you done?" Startled, she stared at him. "I've stopped the train. I'm going to ride to Jacksonville as I rode to San Marco--ages ago. I'm not going alone." "Indeed?" "Quick. The conductor will be here in a minute. Here's a card and pencil--write a note for Aunt Mary. Say you'll meet them in Jacksonville! Hurry, please!" "Mr. Minot!" With great dignity. "One last ride together. One last chance for me to--to set things right if I can." "If you can." "If--I admit it. Won't you give me the chance? I thought you would be game. I dare you!" For a second they gazed into each other's eyes. The train had come to a stop, and Aunt Mary stirred fretfully in her sleep. With sudden decision Cynthia Meyrick wrote on the card and dropped it on her slumbering relative. "I know I'll be sorry--but--" she gasped. "Hurry! This way! The conductor's coming there!" A moment later they stood together on the platform of the Sunbeam station, while the brief little train disappeared indignantly in the distance. "You shouldn't have made me do that!" cried the girl in dismay. "I'm always doing things on the spur of the moment--things I regret afterward--" "I know. You explained that to me once. But you can also do things on the spur of the moment that you're glad about all your life. Oh--good morning, Barney Oldfield." "Good morning," replied the rustic chauffeur with gleeful recognition. "Where's it to this time, mister?" "Jacksonville. And no hurry at all." Minot held open the door and the girl stepped into the car. "The gentleman is quite mistaken," she said to the chauffeur. "There is a very great hurry." "Ages of time until luncheon," replied Minot blithely, also getting in. "If you were thinking of announcing--something--then." "I shall have nothing to announce, I'm sure. But I must be in Jacksonville before that train. Father will be furious."