ood.'"

"Pity about you!" mocked he.

"Being what's called good is all very well if you're
independent or if you've got a husband or a father to do
life's dirty work for you--or, perhaps, if you happen to be in
some profession like preaching or teaching--though I don't
believe the so-called 'goodness' would let you get very far
even as a preacher. In most lines, to practice what we're
taught as children would be to go to the bottom like a stone.
You know this is a hard world, Rod. It's full of men and
women fighting desperately for food and clothes and a roof to
cover them--fighting each other. And to get on you've got to
have the courage and the indifference to your fellow beings
that'll enable you to do it."

"There's a lot of truth in that," admitted Spenser. "If I'd
not been such a 'good fellow,' as they call it--a fellow
everybody liked--if I'd been like Brent, for instance--Brent,
who never would have any friends, who never would do anything
for anybody but himself, who hadn't a thought except for his
career--why, I'd be where he is."

It was at the tip of Susan's tongue to say, "Yes--strong--able
to help others--able to do things worth while." But she did
not speak.

Rod went on: "I'm not going to be a fool any longer. I'm
going to be too busy to have friends or to help people or to
do anything but push my own interests."

Susan, indifferent to being thus wholly misunderstood, was
again moving toward the door. "I'll be back this evening, as
usual," said she.

Spenser's face became hard and lowering: "You're going to
stay here now, or you're not coming back," said he. "You can
take your choice. Do you want me to know you've got the soul
of a streetwalker?"

She stood at the foot of the bed, gazing at the wall above his
head. "I must earn our expenses until we're safe," said she,
once more telling a literal truth that was yet a complete
deception.

"Why do you fret me?" exclaimed he. "Do you want me to be
sick again?"

"Suppose you didn't get the advance right away," urged she.

"I tell you I shall get it! And I won't have you--do as you
are doing. If you go, you go for keeps."

She seated herself. "Do you want me to read or take dictation?"

His face expressed the satisfaction small people find in small
successes at asserting authority. "Don't be angry," said he.
"I'm acting for your good. I'm saving you from yourself."

"I'm not angry," replied she, her strange eyes restin