road-brimmed hat much faded as if from
constant exposure to the sun, but the shadows in the coil of hair
beneath were warmly golden.

"Couldn't you find a room down in the village somewhere,--at Mrs.
Merrill's perhaps?" suggested the clerk.

"But Mrs. Merrill isn't here this spring." In spite of its quiver the
voice was very sweet.

"No," she started to turn away, "I'll have to put it off again, I
suppose. I've looked everywhere."

She took a step or two, hesitated, then returned to the desk.

"You're positive there isn't a single one of the small rooms left?" she
pleaded. "I wouldn't care how far back it was,--anything would do. You
can't think how I hate to give up. I had so hoped to finish it this
time!"

The man shook his head.

"No, we're absolutely full just now. Later on there might be
something,--after the season is over."

"But that will be after school begins," answered the girl bitterly. "I
can't work at all then!" and catching up a bag fully as shabby as the
hat, she hurried away.

"Who is she?" asked Blair abruptly, overlooking for the moment his
original purpose in seeking the man.

"School-teacher from Pasadena," replied the clerk briefly. "Teaches art
in some private school over there, I believe." He eyed Blair amusedly.
"Think you've met her before somewhere?"

Blair allowed his annoyance to show. "No, never laid eyes on her
till just now. But I couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for her," he
persisted. "She seemed so sort of cut up. What's the trouble?"

"I'm sorry for her myself," declared the man on the other side as he
hung the returned key on its board. "This is the third time that poor
little woman's had to leave before she could finish what she came for on
account of the expense. But what can we do?" He shrugged his shoulders.
"The St. Catherine isn't exactly a Y. W. C. A."

"What is it she's trying to do?"

Amusement deepened in the man's eyes.

"She's supposed to be painting Indians."

"Indians!" To the amazement of the other man Blair suddenly leaned
forward, his eyes agleam with interest.

"But I didn't know there were any around here."

"There aren't."

"Then how--?"

"Makes 'em up out of her head, I guess. I never heard that she had even
a model."

"But--but what I want to know is why she comes here at all?" The
situation seemed to Blair to offer possibilities, yet he was thoroughly
puzzled. "I met a fellow on the train who does that sort of thing, but
he always