tell,
but it was a fact he looked perplexed.

"Oh, pick it up in your fingers," she exclaimed. "But look here; are
you coming here every day?"

"Sure," he nodded. "Why not?"

"Because, if you are, I'm going to find another place."

"You--what?" he gasped.

"I'm going to find another place."

The sandwich was halfway to his lips. He put it down again.

"What have I done?" he demanded.

She was avoiding his eyes.

"Oh, it isn't you," she answered. "But if the office ever found
out--"

"Well," he insisted.

"It would make a lot of talk, that's all," she concluded quickly. "I
can't afford it."

"Whom would they talk about?"

"Oh, they wouldn't talk about you--that's sure."

"They would talk about you?"

"They certainly would."

"What would they say?"

"You think it over," she replied. "The thing you want to remember is
that I'm only a stenographer there, and you--well, if you make good
you'll be a member of the firm some day."

"I don't see what that has to do with where you eat or where I eat."

"It hasn't, as long as we don't eat at the same place. Can't you see
that?"

She raised her eyes and met his.

"I see now," he answered soberly. "They'll think I'm getting fresh
with you?"

"They'll think I'm letting you get fresh," she answered, lowering her
eyes.

"But you don't think that yourself?"

"I don't know," she answered slowly. "I used to think I could tell;
but now--oh, I don't know!"

"But good Heavens! you've been a regular little trump to me. You've
even lent me the money to buy my lunches with. Do you think any man
could be so low down--"

"Those things aren't fit to eat when they're cold," she warned him.

He shoved his plate aside and leaned toward her. "Do you think--"

"No, no, no!" she exclaimed. "Only, it isn't what _I_ think that
matters."

"That's the only thing in this case that does matter," he returned.

"You wait until you know Blake," she answered.

"Of course, if any one is to quit here, it is I," he said.

"You'd better stay where you are," she answered. "I know a lot of
other places just like this."

"Well, I can find them, can't I?"

She laughed--a contagious little laugh.

"I'm not so sure," she replied.

"You don't think much of my ability, do you?" he returned, somewhat
nettled.

She lifted her eyes at that.

"If you want to know the truth," she said, "I do. And I've seen a lot
of 'em come and go."

He reacted curiously to this unexpected