ly. Grimly, she said:

"Yes, and there's always to-day to look after." Going up to him, she
said kindly: "I know just how you feel. Sit down, Jim."

He took a seat near the table, and accepted a dry cracker which she
offered him. As he munched it, Laura went on:

"It's pretty tough for me, but it must be a whole lot worse for you,
with a wife and kids."

The agent made a wry face.

"Oh, if a man's alone he can generally get along--turn his hand to
anything. But a woman----"

"Worse, you think?"

He eyed her a moment without replying. Then he said:

"I was just thinking about you and what Burgess said."

"What was that?" asked the girl indifferently, as she sipped her milk.

The agent cleared his throat. With an air of some importance, he said:

"You know Burgess and I used to be in the circus business together. He
took care of the grafters when I was boss canvas man. I never could see
any good in shaking down the rubes for all the money they had and then
taking part of it. He used to run the privilege car, you know."

Laura looked puzzled.

"Privilege car?" she echoed.

"Yes," he went on, "had charge of all the pick-pockets--dips we called
'em--sure-thing gamblers and the like. Made him rich. I kept sort o' on
the level and I'm broke. Guess it don't pay to be honest----"

Laura gave him a quick look. In a significant tone of voice, she said:

"You don't really think that?"

The man shook his head dubiously.

"No, maybe not. Ever since I married the missis and the first kid come
we figured the only good money was the kind folks worked for and
earned. But when you can't get hold of that, it's tough."

The girl nodded, and, averting her head, looked out of the window.

"I know," she said simply.

The agent was in a loquacious mood this afternoon, and needed little
encouragement to do all the talking. He went on:

"Burgess don't seem to be losing sleep over the tricks he turned. He's
happy and prosperous, but I guess he ain't any better now than he ought
to be."

"I guess he isn't," rejoined Laura quickly. "I know I've been trying to
induce him to give me an engagement, but for some reason I get no
satisfaction. There are half a dozen parts in his new attractions that
I could do. He has never said absolutely 'no'; but, somehow, he's never
said 'yes'."

"That's odd," said her visitor, scratching his head, as if puzzled. "He
spoke about you to-day."

"In what way?" demanded the girl.

"I gave