198 THE LOG OF A TIMBER CRUISER 



"I chanced to be in this part of the world yester- 

 day," he said, in a deep and resonant voice, "and 

 hearing that you boys would be coming in from the 

 wilds I just thought I'd run down and meet you all." 



He paused, and that keen, searching eye swept us, 

 one after the other. It was like a suction cleaner 

 applied to the soul. 



He smiled, and went on: "I need not say that 

 I am more than happy to meet my boy's friends. 

 And to have at the same time an opportunity of 

 talking over some matters in regard to the Forest 

 Service with your Supervisor Mr. Johns, here. I 

 hope to detain him some time longer on the same 

 business. Afterward, I want you all to join me in 

 a small supper that has been planned for this even- 

 ing at Lin Foo's, which I am informed is more 

 generally known as 'The Chink's.' What do you 

 say?" 



We accepted, of course. Then we scattered, to 

 bathe and dress. Some of us, too, had promised 

 ourselves the luxury of a call or so before dinner 

 time. 



At about five-thirty I cut short a wonderfully brief 

 visit and started for the restaurant where Mr. 

 Wetherby's affair was to take place. As I turned 

 the corner of Bullard and Main I ran full into 

 Horace and the pretty girl of the Diamond Bar ad- 

 venture. 



They were walking quite close together, talking 

 cosily and confidentially. My sudden appearance 



