with a plea of honesty.

"You are a judge of men. I know it. And of women. Surely, when I am
trying to persuade you from a criminal life and to get you honest work
to do....?"

He was immediately contrite.

"I sure beg your pardon, ma'am," he said. "I reckon my nervousness ain't
complimentary."

As he spoke, he drew his right hand from the table, and after lighting
the cigarette, dropped it by his side.

"Thank you for your confidence," she breathed softly, resolutely keeping
her eyes from measuring the distance to the revolver, and keeping her
foot pressed firmly on the bell.

"About that three hundred," he began. "I can telegraph it West to-night.
And I'll agree to work a year for it and my keep."

"You will earn more than that. I can promise seventy-five dollars a
month at the least. Do you know horses?"

His face lighted up and his eyes sparkled.

"Then go to work for me--or for my father, rather, though I engage all
the servants. I need a second coachman--"

"And wear a uniform?" he interrupted sharply, the sneer of the free-born
West in his voice and on his lips.

She smiled tolerantly.

"Evidently that won't do. Let me think. Yes. Can you break and handle
colts?"

He nodded.

"We have a stock farm, and there's room for just such a man as you. Will
you take it?"

"Will I, ma'am?" His voice was rich with gratitude and enthusiasm. "Show
me to it. I'll dig right in to-morrow. And I can sure promise you one
thing, ma'am. You'll never be sorry for lending Hughie Luke a hand in
his trouble--"

"I thought you said to call you Dave," she chided forgivingly.

"I did, ma'am. I did. And I sure beg your pardon. It was just plain
bluff. My real name is Hughie Luke. And if you'll give me the address
of that stock farm of yours, and the railroad fare, I head for it first
thing in the morning."

Throughout the conversation she had never relaxed her attempts on the
bell. She had pressed it in every alarming way--three shorts and a long,
two and a long, and five. She had tried long series of shorts, and,
once, she had held the button down for a solid three minutes. And she
had been divided between objurgation of the stupid, heavy-sleeping
butler and doubt if the bell were in order.

"I am so glad," she said; "so glad that you are willing. There won't be
much to arrange. But you will first have to trust me while I go upstairs
for my purse."

She saw the doubt flicker momentarily in his eyes, and added ha