. Aren't you happy enough without always having
things--can't you wait for some things in this world?"

"Yes, I can," he said. "I can wait for everything--the money, the
success and all--but I can't wait for you! No, that's asking too much!"

He drew her towards him and his strong arm swept about her, but she
straightened rebelliously in his clutch.

"Remember!" she warned and his arm relaxed though his breath was still
hot on her cheek. "Now I must be going," she said, rising swiftly.
"Good-night, Rimrock! I'm glad you're here!"

"Don't I get a kiss?" he demanded hoarsely as his hand reached again.
"Come on," he pleaded. "Didn't I turn you loose? You kissed me
once--in jail!"

"But you're free now, Rimrock, and--that makes a difference. You must
learn to wait, and be friends."

"Oh--hell!" he burst out as she flitted away from him. But she was
deaf--she turned back and smiled.

CHAPTER XIII

THE MORNING AFTER

The morning after found Rimrock without regrets and, for once, without
a head. He had subtly judged, from something she had said, that Mary
did not like whiskey breaths, nor strong cigars, nor the odors of the
two combined. So, having certain words to speak in her ear, he had
refrained, with the results as aforesaid. For the first time in her
life she had looked him in the eye and acknowledged, frankly, that she
liked him. But she had not kissed him--she drew the line there--and
once more in his shrewd unsophisticated way he judged it was never
done, in her set.

He found her in the office when he appeared the next morning, with her
harness over her head. It was the sign in a way that she was strictly
business and all personal confidences were taboo, but Rimrock did not
take the hint. It annoyed him, some way, that drum over her ear and
the transmitter hung on her breast, for when he had seen her the
evening before all these things had been set aside.

"What? Still wearing that ear-thing?" he demanded bluffly and she
flushed and drew her lips tight. It was a way she had when she
restrained some quick answer and Rimrock hastened on to explain. "You
never wore it last night and--and you could hear every word I said."

"That was because I knew what you were going to say."

She smiled, imperceptibly, as she returned the retort courteous and now
it was Rimrock who blushed. Then he laughed and waved the matter aside.

"Well, let it go at that," he said sitting down. "Gimme the