Druce grinned triumphantly. "That's dead easy," he said. "You see I'm married to her." He had expected to startle Miss Masters with this information, but he was disappointed. She merely arched her brows slightly. "Then you marry them, do you?" "Yes, when I have to. It's the easiest way." "Then this girl--Elsie--is living in your--a--a--hotel?" "No," replied Druce hesitatingly, "she's gone away." Then he added quickly, "but she'll be back." "Gone away? I don't understand." "Oh, we had a family row this morning. I told her that if she wanted to get along in Chicago she'd have to discard her Millville morals and be a good fellow. She's squeamish. I let her understand that she'd have to--" "I see," said Miss Masters. "She thought that, because she was your wife she wouldn't have to drink with the patrons in your cafe. When you told her she'd have to, she got angry and walked out. Is that it?" "You're wise," replied Druce admiringly. "You say she'll be back. How do you know that?" "I know it, because she hasn't got a dime. With her it's a case of coming back or starving to death in the Levee, and I know enough about her to be sure she'll be back. She can't get away from me." "And the other girl, Patience?" "She thinks this is a sort of a music hall. She's coming here with her mother Saturday night. Before she discovers that this place isn't exactly what she believes it is, Harry Boland will see her up there on the stand with the rest of my talent. I'll get the girl out of the place before he can talk to her. That will put the kibosh on their love affair." "What do you expect to do with these girls afterward?" "Oh, we have facilities here"--Druce's smile was evil--"for breaking 'em in. Afterward--well, I don't know. It may be dangerous to keep them around Chicago. I can get a good price for them." He laughed. "You know I'm a dealer in live stock." "Yes, yes, you expect to sell them. That's not a bad idea." "Now look here, kid," said Druce, "you've asked me a lot of questions and got fair answers. It's a poor game that can't be played both ways. I want to know something about you." Miss Masters curled herself up comfortably in a corner of the booth. She looked challengingly at Druce. "Shoot," she said. "Now, who are you?" "You know my name. It's Masters." "I don't mean that. What are you?" Miss Masters replied quickly, "I--why--I'm a girl, and--you say yourself I'm wise." "You don't have to tell me that. Where did you come from? Where did Boland get you?" "Before I went to work for Boland I was in St. Louis." "What did you do there?" "Oh, I shan't answer that question--yet." "Well, you seem to know a great deal about the kind of business I'm in. Where did you get your information?" "Picked it up." "In St. Louis?" "Yes, I learned some things there." "Have you ever been in this business?" "What business?" "Well, this cafe business--and the rest of it." "You say I know a good deal about it."