can walk on."

"No:" he refused. "You don't put one over on me in that way."

"You know I couldn't walk back to town."

"Some one might come along in a car."

"Wouldn't you trust me, if I gave you my word to wait for you?"

"The word of--"

"A thief," she finished. "All right. I'm in no hurry. What are you going
to do?"

"We'll wait here until some one comes along."

"Then let's go back to the trees while we wait," she proposed, climbing
out of the car and taking a small box from the seat.

"Didn't Bender have one tiny good word for me?" she asked as they sat down
in the welcome shade.

"He said stealing was the only offense you'd been up for, and he guessed
you couldn't help it. What was your little game in making him think you
were stupid?"

"Did he say I was? Horrid thing! I'm glad I put one over on him and lifted
this," and she held up the box.

"What is it?" he demanded sternly.

"His supper. A peroxided wife brought it to him--just before he presented
me to you. It'll come in handy now, or won't you partake of stolen
goods?"

"I'll pay him for it the next time I see him."

"Shucks, Kurt! You got such a bad bargain when you drew me, you ought to
have something thrown in. It's all done up in a nice napkin--looks as if
it would taste good. Oh, what a feast! Pork sandwiches, deviled eggs,
dills, a keep-hot bottle of coffee, layer cake and pie. Bender knew how to
pick a partner. What shall we drink out of?"

He produced a drinking cup, poured some coffee in it and handed it to
her.

"Thank you," she said. "Shall we make it a loving cup, Kurt?"

He ignored her question and plunged greedily into a pork sandwich. He had
had so much business in town that day, he had taken no time to eat.

The girl partook of Bender's pilfered luncheon sparingly and without
zest.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked her presently, his temper disappearing as
his appetite was appeased.

"No; it's a long time since I've been hungry."

"What did you steal this food for then?"

"I don't know. Yes, I do. It was because that Bender woman gave me such a
once-over, and decided I was the scum of the earth. Is that the way your
topside tavern woman will look at me?"

"No;" he replied earnestly. "She's made a woman out of worse than you."

"Thanks!" she said, folding the napkin neatly. "I thought you had my
number for the worst ever. It's wonderful what food will do for a man.
Hope she will let me stay at the top of the hill