But she met his eyes squarely, and Thurston did not look at her again; he did not like the expression of her mouth.
News of the holdup had been telegraphed ahead, and all Shellanne--which was not much of a crowd--gathered at the station to meet the train and congratulate the heroes.

Thurston alighted almost shamefacedly into the midst of the loud-voiced commotion.

While he was looking uncertainly about him, wondering where to go and what to do, a voice he knew hailed him with drawling welcome.
"Hello, Bud.

Got back quicker than you expected, didn't yuh?
It's lucky I happened to be in town--yuh can ride out with me.

Say, yuh got quite a bunch uh local color for a story, didn't yuh?
You'll be writing blood-and-thunder for a month on the strength of this little episode, I reckon." his twinkling eyes teased, though his face was quite serious, as was his voice.
She of the blue-gray eyes turned and measured Thurston with a deliberate, leisurely glance, and her mouth still had that unpleasant expression.