Publisher's Synopsis
The train had left Sacramento some distance behind, and was now bravely beginning thelong climb that led to the high Sierras and the town of Truckee. Little patches of snowsparkled in the late afternoon sun along the way, and far ahead snow-capped peakssuddenly stood out against the pale sky of a reluctant spring.Two conductors, traveling together as though for safety, came down the aisle and paused atsection seven. "Tickets on at Sacramento," demanded the leader. The occupant of thesection, a pretty blonde girl who seemed no more than twenty, handed him the small greenslips. He glanced at them, then passed one to his companion. "Seat in Seven," he said loudly."Reno.""Reno," echoed the Pullman conductor, in an even louder tone.They passed on, leaving the blonde girl staring about the car with an air that was a mixtureof timidity and defiance. This was the first time, since she had left home the day before, thatshe had been so openly tagged with the name of her destination. All up and down the car, strange faces turned and looked at her with casual curiosity. Some smiled knowingly;others were merely cold and aloof. The general public in one of its ruder moments
