Not that he wanted it to be true! But he was man enough to look at her with a keener interest than he had felt before.

And Miss Georgie, if one might judge by her manner, was woman enough to detect that interest and to draw back her skirts, mentally, ready for instant flight into unapproachableness.
"Howdy, Mr.Imsen ?" she greeted him lightly.

"In what official capacity am I to receive you, please?
Do YOU want to send a telegram ?" The accent upon the pronoun was very faint, but it was there for him to notice if he liked.

So much she helped him.

She was a bright young woman indeed, that she saw he wanted help.
"I don't believe I came to see you officially at all," he said, and his eyes lighted a little as he looked at her.