y talk from a hobo," declared one of the
women.

"Mother!" warned the third member of the party.

Farr turned his cynical gaze from the older woman to the younger--from
the bleached hair and rouged lips to a fresh, pure, and vivid
loveliness. He saw her profile once more.

"No one has remembered to say 'please' yet," the girl informed him,
meeting his gaze. "I say it, sir!"

He bowed and went straight to the roadside and picked up a bit of plank
on which his searching eyes rested.

He gave it into the gloved hands of the car's owner, he slipped off his
own sun-faded coat and rolled the sleeves of his flannel shirt above
his elbows, and then, with shoulder thrusting up; and arms straining,
he heaved the car high enough so that the flabby gentleman could set the
prop under the axle. And when the gentleman began to dust his gloves and
to search for spots on his gray immaculateness, Farr dug tools from the
box and proceeded to the work of replacing the tire.

The girl stood near him and regarded him with interest. He looked up
when he had the opportunity and found her eyes studying him. She was
entirely frank in her gaze. There was nothing in her eyes except the
earnestness of a scrutiny which was satisfying curiosity.

When the work was done the owner offered money.

Farr refused with curt decisiveness.

"Well, have a drink?" invited the debtor.

"I do not use liquor."

The autoist emptied his cigar-case into his hand and offered the cigars
to Farr, who had just tugged on his coat.

"I do not smoke, sir."

It was not declination with humility; the manner of the man of the road
contained a hint that anybody who drank or smoked was no better than he
should be. The girl studied him with renewed interest.

"Don't stand there and try to put anything over on me," advised the man
in gray, showing resentment. "What can I do for you?"

"You might thank the man, Richard," declared the girl, tartly. She
turned to Farr.

"He seems to have forgotten 'thank you' as he forgot 'please.' May I
make amends? We thank you!"

"And now I am in your debt," said the rover. He bowed and walked on.

When the car passed him the girl turned and gave him a long look. He
waved his hand. The dust-cloud closed in between them.

"Kat Kilgour! That's a tramp! I'm amazed!" said the elder woman,
observing the look and the salute.

"Yes, this world is full of surprises," agreed the girl, sweetly.

"But your own eyes told you that he