"I certainly rubbed him the wrong way," said Pen comprehendingly. "He looked upon me as if there were no place on his map for my kind, and yet he struggled hard to be good to me when I was suffering from cold and hunger. I never met his sort of a man before. The men I have been thrown with think goodness stupid. No matter what crime a girl commits, providing she is attractive in any way, they applaud and call her a 'little devil.'" "He talked of you a great deal to-day, and about your chances for reformation." Pen smiled enigmatically. "He said he would have felt more sympathy for me if I had not been educated and knew the enormity of my sins. If he knew more of the world, he would know that the intelligent criminal has the least chance to reform. When he took me so unexpectedly from Bender, I wanted to see what he was going to do with me. When I found he was bringing me out here, I could have easily given him the slip and escaped, but I was curious to see the 'best woman in the world.' I never had faith in a man's estimate of a woman, but as soon as I saw you, I knew he was right. May I stay? Will you really let me?" "I quite insist upon your staying. We will go downstairs for a little while now." Below, Mrs. Kingdon lingered to give some directions to a servant and Pen went on to the library. Kurt was standing there alone. She stood small and straight before her warden, looking squarely into his eyes. "You needn't," she said, "put any locks on valuables here--not on my account. The crookedest crook in the world wouldn't steal from _her_." "I am glad you recognize a true woman," he said earnestly. "Thank you for bringing me here. I feel it's the turning point in my life." "Then," he said earnestly, "I feel I have done something worth while. You shall not leave here until--you see I am speaking plainly--you have overcome all desire to steal." "Not a severe penalty, O Sheriff Man!" she thought as she replied meekly: "To-night I feel as if I could never do anything wrong; but you know the strongest of us have our lapses." "I know that too well," he said gravely, "but--you'll try?" "I'll try. Good-night, Mr. Walters." In the doorway she paused and looked back. He was gazing meditatively into the flames of the open fire. She shook a little defiant fist at him and made a childish grimace, both of which actions were witnessed by Kingdon as he entered the room. "Do you know," he confided later to his wife, with a chuckle of reminiscence, "as fine a fellow as Kurt is, I sometimes feel like shaking a fist at him myself." CHAPTER IV As on the day previous, Pen awoke at an early hour. She lay quiet for a moment, sensing to the full the deliciousness of being cosily submerged in soft, warm coverings that protected her from the crisp, keen hill-winds that were sweeping into her room.