kicked the door shut behind him and lolled against it while he lit a
cigarette.

Gila's laugh rang harshly in the room again, following some low-toned
remark, and the man laughed coarsely in reply. Then, suddenly, she
looked up and saw Courtland standing sternly there with folded arms,
regarding her steadily, and her eyes grew wide with horror.

It was Courtland's great disillusionment.

Never had he seen such fear in human face.

Gila's skin grew gray beneath its pearly tint, her whole body shrank and
cringed, her eyes were fixed upon him with terror in their gaze.

"Papers haven't come in yet, Mr. Aquilar," called the clerk, affably.
"Train's late to-night. Be in pretty soon, I reckon!"

The man growled out an imprecation on a place where the papers didn't
come till that hour in the evening, and lounged on toward the elevator.
Gila slid along by his side, her eyes on Courtland, with the air of
hiding behind her companion. Her face was drooped, and when she turned
toward the elevator she drooped her eyes also, and a wave of shame
rolled up and covered her face and neck and ears with a dull red
beneath the pearl. Her last glance at Courtland was the look that Eve
must have had as she walked past the flaming swords, with Adam, out of
Eden. Her eyes, as she stood waiting for the boy to come to the
elevator, seemed fairly to grovel on the floor.

Was this the sweet, wild, innocent flower that had held him in its
thrall all the sorrowful months, and separated him from his dearest
friend?

Tennelly! Courtland had forgotten until that instant that Tennelly would
be there in a few minutes! Perhaps was even then at the door!

He strode forward, and Gila quivered as she saw him coming; quivered and
looked up in terror, putting out a fearful hand to the arm of her
companion.

The elevator-boy had arrived and was slamming back the steel grating.
The man stood back to let Gila enter, and she slunk past him, her gaze
still held in horror on Courtland.

"Will you do me the favor to step into the little reception-room to the
right for a moment?" said Courtland, addressing the man, but looking at
Gila.

"The devil we will!" said the man, glaring at him. "What right have you
to ask a favor like that?"

But Courtland was looking at Gila, and there was command in his eyes. As
if she dared not disobey she stepped forth again from the elevator, her
eyes still upon him, her face gray with apprehension. Without further
word