that. Anyway, I'd be afraid
to go home for fear it would be too much of a shock for them when they
saw my hair. They wasn't in on the intermediate stages when it was
chestnut, auburn, Titian, gold, and orange colored. I want to spare
their feelings. The last time they saw me it was just plain brown.
Where I come from a woman who dyes her hair when it is beginning to turn
gray is considered as good as lost. Funny, ain't it? And yet I remember
the minister's wife used to wear false teeth--the kind that clicks. But
hair is different."

"Dear lady," said the blue-eyed man, "it would make no difference to your
own people. I know they would be happy to see you, hair and all. One's
own people----"

"My folks? That's just it. If the Prodigal Son had been a daughter
they'd probably have handed her one of her sister's mother hubbards, and
put her to work washing dishes in the kitchen. You see, after Ma died my
brother married, and I went to live with him and Lil. I was an ugly
little mug, and it looked all to the Cinderella for me, with the coach,
and four, and prince left out. Lil was the village beauty when my
brother married her, and she kind of got into the habit of leaving the
heavy role to me, and confining herself to thinking parts. One day I
took twenty dollars and came to the city. Oh, I paid it back long ago,
but I've never been home since. But say, do you know every time I get
near a news stand like this I grab the home-town paper. I'll bet I've
kept track every time my sister-in-law's sewing circle has met for the
last ten years, and the spring the paper said they built a new porch I
was just dying to write and ask'em what they did with the Virginia
creeper that used to cover the whole front and sides of the old porch."

"Look here," said the man, very abruptly, "if it's money you need,
why----"

"Me! Do I look like a touch? Now you----"

"Finest stock farm and ranch in seven counties. I come to Chicago once a
year to sell. I've got just thirteen thousand nestling next to my left
floating rib this minute."

The eyes of the woman with the green plume narrowed down to two
glittering slits. A new look came into her face--a look that matched her
hat, and heels and gloves and complexion and hair.

"Thirteen thousand! Thirteen thous---- Say, isn't it chilly on this
corner, h'm? I know a kind of a restaurant just around the corner
where----"

"It's no use," said the sandy-haired man, gent