too decidedly primitive. But then, beggars may not always be
choosers, you know. I am no bright, scintillating 'star'; I am not
even a mining engineer possessing a bank account in Denver; I am merely
an unknown professional actress, temporarily stranded, and the good
angel of the Gayety offers me twenty dollars a week. That is my
answer."

The young man flushed to the roots of his fair hair, his teeth meeting
firmly.

"There is no 'good angel' of the Gayety--the very atmosphere of that
place would soil an angel's wing," he exclaimed hotly. "Besides, you
are not driven by necessity to any such choice. There is another way
out. As you gently suggested, I am a mining engineer possessing a bank
account at Denver. I will most gladly draw a sight draft to-morrow,
and pay your expenses back to that city, if you will only accept my
offer. Is this fair?"

"Perfectly so; yet supposing I refuse?"

"And deliberately choose the Gayety instead?"

"Yes, and deliberately choose the Gayety instead--what then?"

She asked the momentous question calmly enough, her mouth rigid, her
eyes challenging him to speak the whole truth. He moistened his dry
lips, realizing that he was being forced into an apparently brutal
bluntness he had sincerely hoped to avoid.

"Then," he replied, with quiet impressiveness, "I fear such deliberate
action would forfeit my respect."

She went instantly white before the blow of these unexpected words, her
fingers clasping the door, her eyes as full of physical pain as if he
had struck her with clinched hand.

"Forfeit your respect!" she echoed, the slender figure quivering, the
voice tremulous. "Rather should I forever forfeit my own, were I to
accept your proffer of money." Her form straightened, a slight tinge
of color rising to the cheeks. "You totally mistake my character. I
have never been accustomed to listening to such words, Mr. Winston, nor
do I now believe I merit them. I choose to earn my own living, and I
retain my own self-respect, even although while doing this I am
unfortunate enough to forfeit yours."

"But, Miss Norvell, do you realize what the Gayety is?"

"Not being deprived of all my natural powers of observation, I most
certainly believe I do--we were there together last evening."

She puzzled, confused him, outwardly appearing to trifle with those
matters which seemed to his mind most gravely serious. Yet, his was a
dogged resolution that would not easily confe