demons as I may have
intimated to Starr."

She looked apprehensively over her shoulder into the dark corners of the
corridor. Then she drew his face down close to hers. "And it's hard to
believe in the reformation of demons," she whispered.

"I'm doing a whole lot of thinking, little girl. But I don't want
to talk now. Do your best at the play. Hide your troubles behind
smiles--that's real fighting! And we'll see what to-morrow will do for
us."

"Yes, to-morrow!" She ran away, but again she returned. "And nothing
can happen to you here, in a quiet town like this, can it, Frank?" she
asked.

"Nothing but what can be taken care of with that shotgun in the back
room! But don't look frightened, precious girl! There's nothing--"

But even Vaniman was startled, the next moment. The girl leaped into his
embrace and cowered. Something was clattering against a window of
the bank. But only the mild face of Squire Hexter was framed in the
lamplight cast on the window. He called, when he got a peep at the
cashier, who came hastening back inside the grille: "Supper, boy!
Supper! Come along!"

Frank threw up the window. "I'll make what's left over from my lunch do
me, Squire. I'm tied up here with my work."

"I'll allow the new Starr in our local sky to keep you away from
euchre," the Squire grumbled, "but I swanny if I'll let your interest in
astronomy, all of a sudden, keep you away from the hot vittles you need.
You come along with me to the house."

"Squire, I can't lock the vault yet awhile. I don't want to leave things
as they are. I must not."

Vona had come to his side, she understood the nature of his anxiety. "I
am just starting for my house, Squire Hexter. I'm going to hurry back
with Frank's supper, so that he won't be bothered."

"Bless your soul, sis, even Xoa will be perfectly satisfied with that
arrangement when I explain," said the Squire, gallantly. "I'm tempted to
stay, myself, if Hebe is going to serve." He backed away and did a grand
salaam, flourishing the cane whose taps on the window had startled the
lovers.

"You must not take the time, Vona," protested the young man.

"I'll bring the supper when I'm on my way to the hall. Not another word!
If I'm to lose the best part of my audience from the hall to-night,
I can, at least, have that best part give me a compliment on my new
gown--and give me," she went on, reassuring him by a brave little smile,
"a whole lot of courage by a dear kiss."

She