to
which there was but one answer, and that was "no." Just why Doris
should have taken it for granted that he would ask her that question is
a matter which she never explained, even to herself. Pete had never
made love to her in the accepted sense of the term. He had done much
better than that, although he was entirely unconscious of it. But that
psychological moment--whatever that may mean--in the affairs of Doris
and Pete was rapidly approaching,--a moment more often anticipated by
the female of the species than by the male.

Just what kept Pete from immediately rushing to the hospital and
proclaiming his presence is another question that never can be
answered. Pete wanted to do just that thing--but he did not. Instead,
he took a modest room at a modest hotel, bought himself some
presentable clothing, dropped in to see Hodges of the Stockmen's
Security, and spent several days walking about the streets mentally
preparing himself to explain just why he _had_ come to El Paso, finally
arriving at the conclusion that he had come to see little Ruth. Doris
had said that Ruth had missed him. Well, he had a right to drop in and
see the kid. And he reckoned it was nobody's business if he did.

He had avoided going near the General Hospital in his strolls about
town, viewing that building from a safe distance and imagining all
sorts of things. Perhaps Miss Gray had left. Perhaps she was ill. Or
she might have married! Still, she would have told him, he thought.

Doris never knew what a struggle it cost Pete--to say nothing of hard
cash--to purchase that bottle of perfume. But he did it, marching into
a drug-store and asking for a bottle of "the best they had," and paying
for it without a quiver. Back in his room he emptied about half of the
bottle on his handkerchief, wedged the handkerchief into his pocket,
and marched to the street, determination in his eye, and the fumes of
half a vial of Frangipanni floating in his wake.

Perhaps the Frangipanni stimulated him. Perhaps the overdose deadened
his decision to stay away from the hospital. In any event, that
afternoon he betook himself to the hospital, and was fortunate in
finding Andover there, to whom he confided the obvious news that he was
in town--and that he would like to see little Ruth for a minute, if it
was all right.

Andover told him that little Ruth had been taken to her home a month
ago--and Pete wondered how she could still miss him, as Miss G