ms, and all that, but he would never
let go of the check-rein. Certainly he would always be the master.

He was thus engrossed in his reflections, when there came a gentle rap
at the door. Instantly galvanized into action, he called out in
stentorian tones:

"Come in!"

The door was pushed open, and Virginia Blaine entered, notebook in
hand. Her face was slightly flushed, and she stood hesitatingly on the
threshold, as if fearing to enter. She was attired in deep mourning,
and the simple black dress, relieved only by a little white lace
collar round the neck, enhanced the natural rich coloring of her face.
Starting hastily from his seat, Stafford advanced towards her. Timidly
she said:

"You asked for a stenographer?"

Impressed, as well as surprised by her beauty, at a loss for a moment
what to say, the railroad promoter stammered confusedly:

"No--that is--yes--by all means--won't you sit down?"

She took a seat near the desk, and opening her notebook, got ready to
take dictation. Stafford looked fixedly at her. He remembered now
having seen her at the telephone switchboard downstairs in the hotel
lobby. Smilingly he said:

"What is your name?"

"Miss Blaine," she replied coldly.

"We've met before, haven't we?" he went on.

She colored under his close scrutiny. Why did he stare so? It made her
very uncomfortable. If he did not cease looking at her, she would
close her book and walk out. It was much against her will that she had
come up, alone, to a man's apartment. But she could not afford to lose
an opportunity of earning a little extra money. Answering his
question, she said rather curtly:

"I believe I got a long distance for you the other day. I'm on the
telephone desk, you know. Stenography is only a side issue."

He still gazed at her admiringly, quick to note her well-bred manner,
her quiet aloofness, unusual in girls of her occupation.

"I remember," he nodded. "We had quite some difficulty in getting in
touch with Washington."

"Yes--there was trouble on the wires."

"But we got it at last, didn't we?" he smiled, making an effort to
break the ice and be friendly.

But Virginia intended to stick strictly to business. She must make it
plain that hers was not a social call. Quickly changing the topic, she
asked:

"Is the dictation ready?"

Stafford would have liked to continue the personal conversation. After
all, there was no immediate necessity of getting to work; the
correspondence