"There's Jim," said Gloria. She did not look toward Gratton, but he understood that she addressed him. "Jim Spalding. I'd feel better if some one I knew--if you'd get Jim to come, please."
She knew that she did not care whether Jim Spalding came or did not come; that she was fighting for delay and could not help snatching at any straw, though she knew that in the end she would go down, overwhelmed by circumstance. Circumstance and--Gratton. Gratton also knew and frowned.
"Gloria," he said smoothly, "that isn't necessary, is it?"
"Yes, it is!" she flared out at him hotly. "Go, get him."
"It will take only a minute," Gratton said over his shoulder as he went. He would see to it that it took no great amount of time. Spalding on his bench saw Gratton running toward him.
"You're wanted in the house a minute, Spalding," he said curtly. "Step lively, will you?"
Spalding, not given to stepping lively at other men's commands, was slow in answering, and then spoke drawlingly: "Wanted, am I? Well, that's interestin'. By who? I'm wonderin'."
"Miss Gloria. She wants you right away."
"That's different," said old Jim, getting to his feet.
Gratton turned and hastened back to the house, Jim quickening his own pace as he sensed something out of the ordinary. The house door stood open as Gratton had left it, and the two entered hastily. Jim looked from face to face with keen, shrewd eyes, ignored Jarrold, who said a mirthful "Evenin', Jim," and turned to Gloria for explanation.
"Miss Gloria wanted----" began Gratton. But Jim Spalding lifted a big hand as though to ward off the words.
"I'm here, miss," he said when Gloria's white face only stared at him." You ain't sick, are you?"
"No, Jim, I--I am going to be married, and----"
"Married!" Jim looked incredulous and then puzzled as again his eyes went swiftly from one to the other of the three men's faces.
"Yes, Jim. And I want you to be a witness."
Jim flushed up and shifted uneasily. He had never been at a wedding; he did not know what a "witness" had to do. And to witness the wedding of Miss Gloria, who had never appeared to come down to earth long enough to know that there was such a man as Jim Spalding on the same sphere with her----He managed an uneasy "Yes'm," and backed off toward the door.