n of latent good sense relieved Miss Hinkle.
"I'll tell 'em you may be down tomorrow. Think it over for
another day."

Susan shook her head. "They'll have to get somebody else."
And, as Miss Hinkle reached the threshold, "Wait till I do the
dress up. You'll take it for me?"

"Why send the things back?" urged Mary. "They belong to you.
God knows you earned 'em."

Susan, standing now, looked down at the finery. "So I did.
I'll keep them," said she. "They'd pawn for something."

"With your looks they'd wear for a heap more. But keep 'em,
anyhow. And I'll not tell Jeffries you've quit. It'll do no
harm to hold your job open a day or so."

"As you like," said Susan, to end the discussion. "But I have quit."

"No matter. After you've had something to eat, you'll feel different."

And Miss Hinkle nodded brightly and departed. Susan resumed
her seat at the bare wobbly little table, resumed her listless
attitude. She did not move until Ellen came in, holding out a
note and saying, "A boy from your store brung this--here."

"Thank you," said Susan, taking the note. In it she found a
twenty-dollar bill and a five. On the sheet of paper round it
was scrawled:

Take the day off. Here's your commission. We'll raise your
pay in a few weeks, L. L. J.

So Mary Hinkle had told them either that she was quitting or
that she was thinking of quitting, and they wished her to stay,
had used the means they believed she could not resist. In a
dreary way this amused her. As if she cared whether or not
life was kept in this worthless body of hers, in her tired
heart, in her disgusted mind! Then she dropped back into
listlessness. When she was aroused again it was by Gideon,
completely filling the small doorway. "Hello, my dear!" cried
he cheerfully. "Mind my smoking?"

Susan slowly turned her head toward him, surveyed him with an
expression but one removed from the blank look she would have
had if there had been no one before her.

"I'm feeling fine today," pursued Gideon, advancing a step and
so bringing himself about halfway to the table. "Had a couple
of pick-me-ups and a fat breakfast. How are you?"

"I'm always well."

"Thought you seemed a little seedy." His shrewd sensual eyes
were exploring the openings in her nightdress. "You'll be
mighty glad to get out of this hole. Gosh! It's hot. Don't
see how you stand it. I'm a law abiding citizen but I must say