Bob Hampton of Placer - Page 74/205

"Miss Phoebe Spencer," she said, her eyes cast demurely down.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, in open triumph; "and have I, then, at last made

fair capture of your secret? You are Miss Phoebe Spencer."

She drew back still farther within the recesses of the bushes, at his

single victorious step forward.

"I? Why certainly not. I am merely Miss Spencer's 'star' pupil, so

you may easily judge something of what her superior attainments must

necessarily be. But I am really going now, and I sincerely trust you

will be able to secure a ticket for to-morrow night; for if you once

meet this Miss Spencer you will never yield another single thought to

me, Mr.--Mr.--" her eyes dancing with laughter--"First Lieutenant

Donald Brant."