as she expected it would. When she called and
stated she was at liberty, they were evasive and non-committal; the
next time she called they were out. It was the same everywhere. No one
seemed to want her at any price. She did not realize that at no time
had the stage been clamoring for her services. She saw only that there
was a conspiracy of silence and indifference around her now.

If she were willing to go on living as before, and use the influence of
such men as Willard Brockton, she could have all the parts she wanted
to play, but that was a price she would pay no longer. The weeks went
by, and no money coming in, it was not long before her slender earnings
were depleted. For a time she managed to keep the wolf from the door by
selling some of her old finery, dainty creations in point lace and
chiffons, which she would never wear again, but when these were gone,
blank destitution stared her in the face. A brief engagement she was
lucky enough to secure after unheard-of exertions, helped matters for a
while, but the show came to grief, and then things were as bad as ever.
Visits to the pawnshop became frequent and soon she was compelled to
give up her rooms and seek still cheaper quarters. But in all her
troubles, she never lost courage. Sleeping and waking, the searching,
questioning eyes of John Madison were continually before her. At all
times she could hear him saying: "You'll be true, little one!" And it
strengthened her resolve to battle bravely on, until he came to claim
her for his bride.

"I didn't see you, Jim," said Laura, sinking wearily into a chair near
him. "Well, what luck to-day?"

He shook his head.

"Bad--bad. Guess you don't want to hear."

"I'm sorry," she said. "Where have you been?"

She listened with sympathetic interest, as he told her of the day's
useless trampings. When he had finished, he looked inquiringly at her.
Abruptly he asked:

"And you--got anything yet?"

She shook her head despondently.

"No, Jim, not yet."

He made a gesture towards the private office, which she had just
vacated.

"You were in there such a long time, I made sure there was something
doing."

Laura shrugged her shoulders impatiently:

"Quiller sent for me, and I hurried here thinking it was serious. Then
he had the nerve to say he'd guarantee me an engagement, if I could put
up five hundred dollars. I could not help laughing. 'Where would I get
five hundred dollars?' I said. 'You know that bette