to silence and deep thought.

She respected his introspection, and busying herself with the service
and with low-voiced orders to the waitress, left him free for a time.

Suddenly she turned. "You mustn't judge me by what people say outside.
Judge me by what I am to you. I don't claim to be a Sunday-school
teacher, but I average up pretty well, after all. I appear to a
disadvantage. When Raimon died I took hold of his business out here and
I've made it pay. I have a talent for business, and I like it. I've got
enough to be silly with if I want to, but I intend to take care of
myself--and I may even marry again. I can see you're deeply involved in
a love affair, Mose, and I honestly want to help you--but I shan't say
another word about it--only remember, when you need help you come to
Martha Jane Williams Raimon. How is that for a name? It's mine; my
father was Lawrence Todd Williams, Professor of Paleontology at Blank
College. Raimon was an actor of the tenth rate--the kind that play
leading business in the candlestick circuit. Naturally Doctor Todd
objected to an actor as a son-in-law. I eloped. Launt was a good fellow,
and we had a happy honeymoon, but he lost his health and came out here
and invested in a mine. That brought me. I was always lucky, and we
struck it--but the poor fellow didn't live long enough to enjoy it. You
know all," she ended with a curious forced lightness of utterance.

After another characteristic silence, Mose said slowly: "Anyhow, I want
you to understand that I'm much obliged for your good will; I'm not
worth a cuss at putting things in a smooth way; I think I'm getting
worse every day, but you've been my friend, and--and there's no discount
on my words when I tell you you've made me feel ashamed of myself
to-day. From this time on, I take no other man's judgment of a woman.
You know my life--all there is that would interest you. I don't know how
to talk to a woman--any kind of a woman--but no matter what I say, I
don't mean to do anybody any harm. I'm getting a good deal like an
Indian--I talk to make known what's on my mind. Since I was seventeen
years of age I've let girls pretty well alone. The kind I meet alongside
the trail don't interest me. When I was a boy I was glib enough, but I
know a whole lot less now than I did then--that is about some things.
What I started to say is this: I'm mighty much obliged for what you've
done for me here--but I'm going to pull out to-night----"

"N