Two days later she said to her mother, out of a long silence over the coffee cups: "Let's go back to San Francisco. This stupid place gets on my nerves."
"Why, of course, dear," agreed Mrs. Gaynor. "I can have everything packed this afternoon, and to-morrow----"
"Nonsense," said Gloria. "You know we can get packed in half an hour."
That day they left Jim Spalding in charge and departed for Truckee to catch a train for San Francisco. Mrs. Gaynor dutifully entrusted to Spalding her husband's message for Mark King. That is to say, that portion of the message which she considered important. Gloria herself left no message with old Jim; not in so many words. But she did impress him with her abundant gaiety, with her eagerness for San Francisco, where all of her best and dearest friends were. If any one should ask old Jim concerning Miss Gloria, Jim would be sure to make it clear that she had no minutest regret in going but a very lively anticipation of the fullest happiness elsewhere.