n and fancy penmanship. In fact,
they teach everything in the writin' line except forgery, an' I ain't so
sure they haven't got a coorse in that."

"I don't care," whimpered Minnie Wenzel suddenly, sinking in a limp heap
on the floor. "I had to do it. I'm marrying a swell fellow and a girl's
got to have some clothes that don't look like a Bird Center dressmaker's
work. He's got three sisters. I saw their pictures and they're coming
to the wedding. They're the kind that wear low-necked dresses in the
evening, and have their hair and nails done downtown. I haven't got a
thing but my looks. Could I go to New York dressed like a rube? On the
square, Jo, I worked here six years and never took a sou. But things got
away from me. The tailor wouldn't finish my suit unless I paid him fifty
dollars down. I only took fifty at first, intending to pay it back.
Honest to goodness, Jo, I did."

"Cut it out," said Jo Haley, "and get up. I was going to give you a
check for your wedding, though I hadn't counted on no three hundred.
We'll call it square. And I hope you'll be happy, but I don't gamble on
it. You'll be goin' through your man's pants pockets before you're
married a year. You can take your hat and fade. I'd like to know how
I'm ever going to square this thing with Ted and Birdie."

"An' me standin' here gassin' while them fool girls in the dinin'-room
can't set a table decent, and dinner in less than ten minutes," cried
Birdie, rushing off. Ted mumbled something unintelligible and was after
her.

"Birdie! I want to talk to you."

"Say it quick then," said Birdie, over her shoulder. "The doors open in
three minnits."

"I can't tell you how grateful I am. This is no place to talk to you.
Will you let me walk home with you to-night after your work's done?"

"Will I?" said Birdie, turning to face him. "I will not. Th' swell mob
has shook you, an' a good thing it is. You was travelin' with a bunch of
racers, when you was only built for medium speed. Now you're got your
chance to a fresh start and don't you ever think I'm going to be the one
to let you spoil it by beginnin' to walk out with a dinin'-room Lizzie
like me."

"Don't say that, Birdie," Ted put in.

"It's the truth," affirmed Birdie. "Not that I ain't a perfec'ly
respectable girrul, and ye know it. I'm a good slob, but folks would be
tickled for the chance to say that you had nobody to go with but the
likes av me. If I was to let you