h you
look to me like you was.'

"Well, the way he talked, Mary, I wouldn't be surprised if he was
married already anyhow. One of the girls said he'd been living with
another woman not four blocks off. He ain't hurt none and I don't know
as I am neither although of course a girl feels mortified that people
think she's going to get married and then she ain't.

"But I'm thinking of you. I've gone back in our old room where it's
cheaper and let them take back the Installment furniture. I ain't got
a thing to do after hours except read the papers. The country's all
stirred up. But anyhow I'm rid of my Dutch patriot. That's why I'm
writing to you now.

"I wonder what you're doing out there. Are you married yet? What did
he look like, Mary? I know he's a good man after all, kind and
chivalrous like he said. If he wasn't you'd be wiring me telling me
when you was coming home. I guess you're too happy to write to anybody
like me. You'll have a Home of your own.

"And all the time I thought I was stronger than you was and abler to
get on and here you are married and happy and me back in the old room!
But don't worry none about me--I'll get another job. The most is I
miss you so much and you haven't wrote me a word I suppose. When a
girl gets married all the girls is crazy to hear all about her and her
husband and I haven't heard a word from you.

"Respectfully your friend,

"Annie Squires."

The two men sat for a time. Wid reached in his pocket for his pipe.

"By God! she come out here maybe to get married, on the level and
honest, after a while!" said he. "She'll have to, now!"

"That's what I was thinking, Wid," said Sim Gage. "It's--it's
chivalerous. We got to find her, now."

CHAPTER XV

THE SPECIES

"Well, pretty one, you got lonesome here all by yourself? So you
holler for 'Sim! Sim!'" Big Aleck's voice was close to her as she sat
in the tent.

Mary Warren felt about her, back of her on the blankets, stealthily
seeking some weapon of defense. She paused. Under her fingers was
something which felt like leather. She made no sudden movement, but
temporized.

"How could I help it?" she asked.

Always her hand was feeling behind her on the blankets. Yes, there was
a holster. It felt familiar--it might be Sim Gage's gun, taken from
her at the house. She waited.

"Well, that's too bad you can't see," said Aleck. "You can't see what
a fine feller I'd make for you! I'm ch