th his explanations. If he was laughed at for his
tastes in women, he felt obliged to say that they were only temporary
or indifferent ones.

The morning after Maggie had departed from home, Pete stood behind the
bar. He was immaculate in white jacket and apron and his hair was
plastered over his brow with infinite correctness. No customers were
in the place. Pete was twisting his napkined fist slowly in a beer
glass, softly whistling to himself and occasionally holding the object
of his attention between his eyes and a few weak beams of sunlight that
had found their way over the thick screens and into the shaded room.

With lingering thoughts of the woman of brilliance and audacity, the
bartender raised his head and stared through the varying cracks between
the swaying bamboo doors. Suddenly the whistling pucker faded from his
lips. He saw Maggie walking slowly past. He gave a great start,
fearing for the previously-mentioned eminent respectability of the
place.

He threw a swift, nervous glance about him, all at once feeling guilty.
No one was in the room.

He went hastily over to the side door. Opening it and looking out, he
perceived Maggie standing, as if undecided, on the corner. She was
searching the place with her eyes.

As she turned her face toward him Pete beckoned to her hurriedly,
intent upon returning with speed to a position behind the bar and to
the atmosphere of respectability upon which the proprietor insisted.

Maggie came to him, the anxious look disappearing from her face and a
smile wreathing her lips.

"Oh, Pete--," she began brightly.

The bartender made a violent gesture of impatience.

"Oh, my Gawd," cried he, vehemently. "What deh hell do yeh wanna hang
aroun' here fer? Do yeh wanna git me inteh trouble?" he demanded with
an air of injury.

Astonishment swept over the girl's features. "Why, Pete! yehs tol'
me--"

Pete glanced profound irritation. His countenance reddened with the
anger of a man whose respectability is being threatened.

"Say, yehs makes me tired. See? What deh hell deh yeh wanna tag
aroun' atter me fer? Yeh'll git me inteh trouble wid deh ol' man an'
dey'll be hell teh pay! If he sees a woman roun' here he'll go crazy
an' I'll lose me job! See? Yer brudder come in here an' raised hell
an' deh ol' man hada put up fer it! An' now I'm done! See? I'm done."

The girl's eyes stared into his face. "Pete, don't yeh remem--"

"Oh, hell," interr