"She told you?" He shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Not a great deal. What do you want to tell me?" Avoiding his direct glance, she said very simply: "Will, I'm ready to come back." With an effort, the broker concealed his sense of triumph and satisfaction. Rising quickly, he went up to her. Taking her hand, he said tenderly: "I'm mighty glad of that, Laura. I've missed you like the very devil." Visibly embarrassed, she asked timidly: "Do we--do we have to talk it over much?" "Not at all unless you want to. I understand--in fact, I always have." "Yes," she said wearily, "I guess you always did. I didn't." "It will be just the same as it was before, you know." "Yes--of course----" "I didn't think it was possible for me to miss anyone the way I have you. I've been lonely." She smiled faintly: "It's nice in you to say that." Drawing back a few steps he cast a hurried glance around the room. "You'll have to move out of here right away. This place is enough to give one the colly-wabbles. If you'll be ready to-morrow, I'll send my man over to help you take care of the luggage." "To-morrow will be all right, thank you," she replied. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a big roll of money. Peeling off five yellow-backed bills and placing them on the table, he said: "And you'll need some money in the meantime. I'll leave this here." "You seem to have come prepared," she smiled. "Did Elfie and you plan all this out?" He chuckled as he replied: "Not planned--just hoped. I think you'd better go to some nice hotel now. Later we can arrange." She offered no objection, accepting everything suggested as a matter of course. Having sold herself, as it were, to the highest bidder, it was not her place to raise any further obstacles. Dispassionately, therefore, she said: "Will, we'll always be frank. I said I was ready to go. It's up to you--when and where." He smiled, surprised to find her so tractable. "The hotel scheme is the best, but, Laura----" "Yes?" He looked at her keenly, trying to penetrate beneath the surface of her almost unnatural calm. He did not wish to be fooled again. "You're quite sure this is in earnest?" he demanded. "You don't want to change? You've time enough now." She shook her head. "I've made up my mind. It's final," she said positively. "If you want to work," he went on, "Burgess has a nice part for you. I'll telephone and arrange if you say so." "Please do. Say I'll see him in the morning." The broker rose and paced nervously up and down the room. So far so good, but he had not yet finished. There was still something unpleasant that must be attended to before all was settled, and now was the proper and only time to do it. Turning abruptly, he said: "Laura, you remember when we were in Denver----" Starting forward, the girl raised one hand entreatingly. For the moment her studied quiet was laid aside. "Please, please don't speak of that!" she cried.