strongly impressed by the way she had managed
her bolting horse. But aside from that, there had
been something in her personality, an indefinable
calm and sureness, a grip upon herself, that he
had felt the very first moment. Undoubtedly all
this had flicked him into a novel curiosity. He
pulled himself together with an effort.

"I like your theory," he answered, smiling.
"And it must be true, because I am told horned
toads are fast disappearing. Evidently they have
served their purpose. But tell me," he concluded,
"what is becoming of them? Where are they
going?"

She laughed. "I can't tell you that. Perhaps
they just vanish into the fourth -- or maybe the
fifth -- dimension!"

And this was the other side of her, a side he
had come to learn while with her at the dance, and
which made her lovable as well as admirable. But
she was speaking again, and again was serious.

"I have yet another theory," she said -- "one
as to why these creatures are here, you know."
She smiled across at him. "It is all my very own,
too! It is that in their presence among us -- among
mankind -- they unwittingly develop us through
thought. Thinking exercises the brain, we are
told, and exercising the brain makes for world-
advancement -- we are told." Then, suddenly,
"I hope you don't think me silly -- Mr. Native?"

But he remained sober. "Tell me," he asked,
after a time, "what it is about this country -- I
mean other than friendships, of course -- that

[[118]]

p117 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p118w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p119

v?