"Your father's gone," the bookkeeper snapped with an unpleasant smile. She eyed Milly's fashionable attire unsympathetically. It was the second time that afternoon that Milly was made to feel apologetic for her good clothes. "Oh," she said hesitantly. "Anything I can do for you, Miss Ridge?" Snowden asked, glancing down at the ledger indifferently. Milly had an inspiration. "Why, yes, Mr. Snowden," she exclaimed pleasantly. "I should like to talk with you a few moments, if I am not interrupting your work," she added, for Snowden made no move. "Well?" he said gruffly. Milly turned towards the rear of the loft where there were a number of little tables dotted with unwashed china cups, and grains of tea and coffee. Snowden followed her slowly, and leaned against a table. "What is it?" "Mr. Snowden," Milly began gently, "you are my father's oldest friend in the city." "Guess I know that." "He's very unhappy." "Has good reason to be." She made the direct appeal. "Why do you do this thing, Mr. Snowden? Why do you want to ruin my father--your old friend?" "Guess you don't understand--he's pretty nearly ruined _me_!" Snowden emitted with a snort. "Yes, I understand," Milly replied glibly. "Business had been very bad. My friends tell me all business has been dreadful since the Fair--everybody feels poor. But why make things worse? A little time, and it will be different." She smiled at him persuasively. "I want to save my own skin, what there is left to save," he grumbled. "Your father's made a pretty bad mess of things, Milly." "We won't discuss what my father has done," Milly retorted with dignity. "He's been deceived--he's too trusting with men. He trusted you!" At this thrust Snowden laughed loudly. "And you want me to trust him with my money some more? No, thank you." His tone changed insensibly. No one could be rough with Milly for long. Snowden volunteered some explanations of the tea and coffee business not related by Mrs. Ridge. It seemed that Horatio had made rather a mess of things all around. "So you see I must try and save what I can before it's _all_ gone.... I've got a family of my own, you know." Milly knew that, and wished she had been nicer to Mrs. Snowden and the uninteresting daughter when she had had the chance. She had never had them to the Acacia Street house in all these years. "Can't you wait a few months?... Please!..." Entreaty was all the argument life had given Milly. There was a leap of something in the man's flushed face that caused the girl to retreat a step or two. She had not meant to rouse his graceless passion, but that was what she had almost succeeded in doing by her coaxing. As she drew back Snowden laughed. "You see, Milly, people _pay_ in this world for what they want--men and women too. They have to _pay_ somehow!"