wish't Mr. McAdoo, or whoever it is, 'd see about
this coal business. Gee, I hope these things'll get dry before
morning--there ain't anything in the world any colder than a pair of
wet stockings in the morning! Let's turn in--it'll be warmer, I
believe."

The wind, steel-pointed, bored at the window casings all that night.
Degree after degree of frost would have registered in that room had
means of registration been present. The two young women huddled closer
under the scanty covering that they might find warmth. Ten dollars a
week. Two great-hearts, neither of them more than a helpless girl.

CHAPTER IV

HEARTS AFLAME

They rose the next morning and dressed in the room without fire,
shivering now as they drew on their stockings, frozen stiff. They had
their morning coffee in a chilly room downstairs, where sometimes their
slatternly landlady appeared, lugubriously voluble. This morning they
ate alone, in silence, and none too happily. Even Annie's buoyant
spirits seemed inadequate. A trace of bitterness was in her tone when
she spoke.

"I'm sick of it."

"Yes, Annie," said Mary Warren. "And it's cold this morning, awfully."

"Cotton vests, marked down--to what wool used to be. Huh! Call this
America?"

"What's wrong, Annie?" suddenly asked Mary Warren, drawing her wrap
closer as she sat.

"I'd go to the lake before I'd go to the streets, though you mightn't
think it. But how about it with only the discards in Derby hats and
false teeth left? If we two are going to get married, Mollie, we got
to look around among the remnants and bargains--we can't be too
particular when we're hunting bargains. Whether it's all off for you
at the store or not ain't for me to say, but you might do worse than
listen to me."

Mary Warren looked at her in a sort of horror. "Annie, what do you
mean?" she demanded.

The real reply came in the hard little laugh with which Annie Squires
drew from the pocket of her coat--in which she also was muffled at the
breakfast table--a meager little newspaper, close-folded. She spread
it out before she passed it to her companion.

"_Hearts Aflame!_" said she. "While you have to dry your own socks,
while you break the ice in your coffee! Can't you feel your heart
flame? Anyway, here you are--bargains in husbands and wives! Take 'em
for the asking. Here's a lot of them advertised. Slightly damaged,
but serviceable--and marked down within the reach of all.

"