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In turn； by abruptly rising from his chair； Winthrop interrupted
her。 He pushed the chair out of his way； and； shoving his hands
into his trousers' pockets； began pacing with long； quick
strides up and down the room。 〃What do I care for that？〃 he
cried contemptuously。 He tossed the words at her over his
shoulder。 〃I put lots of people in jail myself that are better
than I am。 Only； they won't play the game。〃 He halted； and
turned on her。 〃Now； you're not playing the game。 This is a mean
business； taking money from silly girls and old men。 You're too
good for that。〃 He halted at the table and stood facing her。
〃I've got two sisters uptown；〃 he said。 He spoke commandingly；
peremptorily。 〃And tomorrow I am going to take you to see them。
And we fellow townsmen；〃 he smiled at her appealingly； 〃will
talk this over； and we'll make you come back to your own
people。〃
For a moment the two regarded each other。 Then the girl answered
firmly； but with a slight hoarseness in her voice； and in a tone
hardly louder than a whisper：
〃You know I can't do that！〃
〃I don't！〃 blustered Winthrop。 〃Why not？〃
〃Because；〃 said the girl steadily； 〃of what I did in Geneva。〃 As
though the answer was the one he had feared； the man exclaimed
sharply； rebelliously。
〃Nonsense！〃 he cried。 〃You didn't know what you were doing。 No
decent person would consider that。〃
〃They do；〃 said the girl； 〃they are the very ones who do。 And
it's been in the papers。 Everybody in Geneva knows it。 And here
too。 And whenever I try to get away from this〃 she stretched
out her hands to include the room about her 〃Someone tells！
Five times； now。 She leaned forward appealingly； not as though
asking pity for herself； but as wishing him to see her point of
view。 〃I didn't choose this business；〃 she protested； 〃I was
sort of born in it； and；〃 she broke out loyally； 〃I hate to have
you call it a mean business； but I can't get into any other。
Whenever I have； some man says； That girl in your front office
is a thief。〃 The restraint she put upon herself； the air of
disdain which at all times she had found the most convenient
defense； fell from her。
〃It's not fair！〃 she cried； 〃it's not fair。〃 To her
mortification； the tears of self…pity sprang to her eyes； and as
she fiercely tried to brush them away； to her greater anger；
continued to creep down her cheeks。 〃It was nine years ago；〃 she
protested； 〃I was a child。 I've been punished enough。〃 She
raised her face frankly to his； speaking swiftly； bitterly。
〃Of course； I want to get away！〃 she cried。 〃Of course； I want
friends。 I've never had a friend。 I've always been alone。 I'm
tired； tired！ I hate this business。 I never know how much I hate
it until the chance comes to get away and I can't。〃
She stopped； but without lowering her head or moving her eyes
from his。
〃This time；〃 said the man quietly； 〃you're going to get away
from it。〃
〃I can't；〃 repeated the girl。 〃you can't help me！〃
Winthrop smiled at her confidently。
〃I'm going to try；〃 he said。
〃No； please！〃 begged the girl。 Her voice was still shaken with
tears。 She motioned with her head toward the room behind her。
〃These are my people；〃 she declared defiantly； as though daring
him to contradict her。 〃And they are good people！ They've tried
to be good friends to me； and they've been true to me。〃
Winthrop came toward her and stood beside her； so close that he
could have placed his hand upon her shoulder。 He wondered；
whimsically； if she knew how cruel she seemed in appealing with
her tears； her helplessness and loveliness to what was generous
and chivalric in him； and； at the same time； by her words；
treating him as an interloper and an enemy。
〃That's all right；〃 he said gently。 〃But that doesn't prevent my
being a good friend to you； too； does it？ Or；〃 he added； his
voice growing tense and conscious 〃my being true to you？ My
sisters will be here tomorrow；〃 he announced briskly。
Vera had wearily dropped her arms upon the table and lowered her
head upon them。 From a place down in the depths she murmured a
protest。
〃No；〃 contradicted Winthrop cheerfully； 〃this time you are going
to win。 You'll have back of you； If I do say it； two of the best
women God ever made。 Only； now； you must do as I say。〃 There was
a pause。 〃Will you？〃 he begged。
Vera raised her head slowly； holding her hand across her eyes。
There was a longer silence； and then she looked up at him and
smiled pathetically； gratefully； and nodded。 〃Good！〃 cried
Winthrop。 〃No more spooks；〃 he laughed； 〃no more spirit
rappings。〃
Through her tears Vera smiled up at him a wan； broken smile。 She
gave a shudder of distaste。 〃Never！〃 she whispered。 〃I promise。〃
Their eyes met； the girl's looking into his shyly； gratefully；
the man's searching hers eagerly。 And suddenly they saw each
other with a new and wonderful sympathy and understanding。
Winthrop felt himself bending toward her。 He was conscious that
the room had grown dark； and that he could see only her eyes。
〃You must be just yourself；〃 he commanded； but so gently； so
tenderly； that； though he did not know it； each word carried
with it the touch of a caress； 〃just your sweet； fine； noble
self！〃
Something he read in the girl's uplifted eyes made him draw back
with a shock of wonder； of delight； with an upbraiding
conscience。 To pull himself together； he glanced quickly about
him。 The day had really grown dark。 He felt a sudden desire to
get away； to go where he could ask himself what had happened；
what it was that had filled this unknown； tawdry room with
beauty and given it the happiness of a home。
〃By Jove！〃 he exclaimed nervously； 〃I had no idea I'd stayed so
long。 You'll not let me come again。 Goodbye until tomorrow。〃
He turned； holding out his hand； and found that again the girl
had dropped her face upon her arm； and was sobbing quietly；
gently。
〃Oh； what is it？〃 cried Winthrop。 〃What have I said？〃 The catch
in the girl's voice as she tried to check the sobs wrenched his
heart。 〃Oh； please；〃 he begged； 〃I've said something wrong？ I've
hurt you？〃 With her face still hidden in her arms； the girl
shook her head。
〃No； no！〃 she sobbed。 Her voice； soft with tears； was a melody
of sweet and tender tones。 〃It's only that I've been so
lonely and you've made me happy； happy！〃
The sobs broke out afresh； but Winthrop； now knowing that they
brought to the girl peace； was no longer filled with dismay。
Her head was bent upon her left arm； her right hand lightly
clasped the edge of the table。 With the intention of saying
farewell； Winthrop took her hand in his。 The girl did not move。
To his presence she seemed utterly oblivious。 In the gathering
dusk he could see the bent figure； could hear the soft；
irregular breathing as the girl wept gently； happily； like a
child sobbing itself to sleep。 The hand he held in his neither
repelled nor invited； and for an instant he stood motionless；
holding it uncertainly。 It was so delicate； so helpless； so
appealing； so altogether lovable。 It seemed to reach up； and；
with warm； clinging fingers； clutch the tendrils of his heart。
Winthrop bent his head suddenly； and lifting the hand； kissed
it； and then； without again speaking； walked quickly into the
hall and shut the door。 In the room the dusk deepened。 Through
the open windows came the roar of the Sixth Avenue Elevated； the
insistent clamor of an electric hansom； the murmur of Broadway
at night。 The tears had suddenly ceased； but the girl had not
moved。 At last； slowly； stiffly； she raised her head。 Her eyes；
filled with wonder； with amazement； were fixed upon her hand。
She glanced cautiously about her。 Assured she was alone； with
her other hand she lifted the one Winthrop had kissed and held
it pressed against her lips。
The folding doors were thrown open； letting in a flood of light；
and Mabel Vance； entering swiftly； knelt at the table and bent
her head close to Vera。
〃That woman's in the hall；〃 she whispered； 〃that niece of
Hallowell's。 Paul and Mannie can't get rid of her。 Now she's got
hold of Winthrop。 She says she will see you。 Be careful！〃
Vera rose。 That Mabel might not see she had been weeping； she
walked to the piano； covertly drying her eyes。
〃What；〃 she asked dully； 〃does she want with me？〃
〃About tonight；〃 answered Mabel。 She exclaimed fiercely； 〃I told
them there'd be trouble！〃
With Vance upon her heels； Helen Coates came in quickly from the
hall。 Her face was flushed； her eyes lit with indignation and
excitement。 In her hand she held an open letter。
As though to protect Vera； both Vance and his wife moved between
her and their visitor； but； disregarding them； Miss Coates at
once singled out the girl as her opponent。
〃You are the young woman they call Vera； I believe；〃 she said。
〃I have a note here from Mr。 Hallowell telling me you are giving
a seance tonight at his house。 That you propose to exhibit the
spirit of my mother。 That is an insult to the memory of my
mother and to me。 And I warn you； if you attempt such a thing； I
will prevent it。〃
There was a pause。 When Vera spoke it was in the tone of every…
day politeness。 Her voice was even and steady。
〃You have bee