arn to be kind to poor people from _your_ example. And
I am sure I have gained no harm from being with them once in a while--only
good. To help them a little has helped me--I assure you!"

But Mr. Starkweather listened not at all to this. "Where did you find
these low companions?" he demanded.

"I met Sadie the night I arrived here in the city. The taxicab driver
carried me to Madison Street instead of Madison Avenue. Sadie was kind to
me. As for old Mr. Lurcher, I saw him first in Mr. Grimes's office."

Uncle Starkweather suddenly lost his color and fell back in his chair. For
a moment or two he seemed unable to speak at all. Then he stammered:

"In Fenwick Grimes's office?"

"Yes, sir."

"What--what was this--ahem!--this beggar doing there?"

"If he is a beggar, perhaps he was begging. At least, Mr. Grimes seemed
very anxious to get rid of him, and gave him a dollar to go away."

"And you followed him?" gasped Mr. Starkweather.

"No. I went to see Sadie, and it seems Mr. Lurcher lives right in that
neighborhood. I found he needed spectacles and was half-blind and I----"

"Tell me nothing more about it! Nothing more about it!" commanded her
uncle, holding up a warning hand. "I will not--ahem!--listen. This has
gone too far. I gave you shelter--an act of charity, girl! And you have
abused my confidence by consorting with low company, and spending your
time in a mean part of the town."

"You are wrong, sir. I have done nothing of the kind," said Helen, firmly,
but growing angry herself, now. "My friends are decent people, and a poor
part of the city does not necessarily mean a criminal part."

"Hush! How dare you contradict me?" demanded her uncle. "You shall go
home. You shall go back to the West at once! Ahem! At once. I could not
assume the responsibility of your presence here in my house any longer."

"Then I will find a position and support myself, Uncle Starkweather. I
have told you I could do that before."

"No, indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Starkweather, at once. "I will not allow it.
You are not to be trusted in this city. I shall send you back to that
place you came from--ahem!--Sunset Ranch, is it? That is the place for a
girl like you."

"But, Uncle----"

"No more! I will listen to nothing else from you," he declared, harshly.
"I shall purchase your ticket through to-morrow, and the next day you must
go. Ahem! Remember that I _will_ be obeyed."

Helen looked at him with tear-dimmed eyes for fully