you know it."

"They arrest women like you, too."

"Don't you dare say that." And as he took a step or two toward her
she retreated to the window. "You stay there, or I'll jump out of the
window."

She looked desperate enough to do it, and Rudolph hesitated.

"He was up here. I saw him at the window. I've been trailing you all
evening. Keep off that window-sill, you little fool! I'm not going to
kill you. But I'm going to get him, all right, and don't you forget it."

His milder tone and the threat frightened her more than ever. He would
get Graham; he was like that. Get him in some cruel, helpless way;
that was the German blood in him. She began to play for time, with
instinctive cunning.

"Listen, Rudolph," she said. "I'll tell you all about it. He did come
up, but he left right away. We quarreled. He threw me over, Rudolph.
That's what he did."

Her own words reminded her of her humiliation, and tears came into her
eyes.

"He threw me over! Honest he did. That's why I threw his watch out of
the window. That's straight, Rudolph. That's straight goods. I'm not
lying now."

"God!" said Rudolph. "The dirty pup. Then--then you're through with him,
eh?"

"I'm through, all right."

Her tone carried conviction. Rudolph's face relaxed, and seeing that,
she remembered her half-dressed condition.

"Throw me that waist," she said.

"Come around and get it."

"Aw, Rudolph, throw it. Please!"

"Getting modest, all at once," he jeered. But he picked it up and
advanced to the table with it. As she held out her hand for it he caught
her and drew her forward toward him, across the table.

"You little devil!" he said, and kissed her.

She submitted, because she must, but she shivered. If she was to save
Graham she must play the game. And so far she was winning. She was
feminine enough to know that already the thing he thought she had
done was to be forgiven her. More than that, she saw a half-reluctant
admiration in Rudolph's eyes, as though she had gained value, if she
had lost virtue, by the fact that young Spencer had fancied her.
And Rudolph's morals were the morals of many of his kind. He admired
chastity in a girl, but he did not expect it.

But she was watchful for the next move he might make. That it was not
what she expected did not make it the less terrifying.

"You get your hat and coat on."

"I'll not do anything of the kind."

"D'you think I'm going to leave you here, where he can come back
w