She obeyed the quiet authority in his voice, sitting dishevelled on the bed’s edge and wiping her swollen eyes with a balled and tear-dampened handkerchief. It was the commonplace story too often repeated, of a country girl dissatisfied with the round of farm life; of the lure of the city; and, finally, of the persuasion of the tempter who had started her on the downward road and finished by pretending to find her employment in Denver. Philip heard the story through to its pathetic end. There was the stamp of truth on every part of the ill-worded confession. It was plainly evident that the girl was not yet old enough in guile to fabricate such a tale on the spur of the moment. “What may I call you?” he asked. “Sadie Hansen’s my name.” “All right, Sadie; let me ask you just one question: would the old folks take you back if you should go home now?” “They--they’ve never quit writin’ me and beggin’ me to come. If they knew where I am now.... My God--it would kill ’em!” “Don’t cry any more; it’s all right. You are not going to stay here.” “But I’ve got to stay. That woman down-stairs says she paid my fare out here, and she’ll make me stay till I can pay her back!” “Never mind about that. Have you unpacked your trunk?” “No.” “That’s good.” He rose and looked at his watch. “Wash your face and comb your hair as quickly as you can. Have you had any supper?” “No; I couldn’t eat anything if I’d die for it.” “We’ll see about that later. Straighten yourself up and get ready to go. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She caught at him as he was turning away. “Tell me what you’re goin’ to do to me! I’ll kill myself if you----” “Don’t worry; I’m going to send you home--back to your people.” Before he could stop her she had gone on her knees to him in a frenzy of gratitude. “Don’t do that!” he protested sharply, lifting her to her feet. “There’s nothing to thank me for, and you haven’t any time to lose. Get busy with the wash-basin.” In the lower hall he found the hard-faced woman with the bejeweled ears, neck and hands. She was evidently waiting to find out what would befall. Philip was bluntly direct. “That girl up there will never be any good to you,” he asserted crisply. “If you will tell me how much she owes you, I’ll pay her out and send her home.” The woman saw her chance and grasped it avidly. “Yes, you will!” she jeered. “I know your la-de-dah kind. You want her for yourself. I’m short o’ girls, and I ain’t goin’ to let her go!” “Oh, yes; I think you will,” he countered evenly. “It is only a question of money, isn’t it? How much?” and he drew out a handful of the gold coins. The woman laughed, a hoarse chuckle with a choking noise to punctuate it. “Oh, well; if you’re so dead set on it, I’ll sell her to you. How much will you give for her?” Philip’s eyes burned and his reply was shot-like. “I’ll pay the price of a human soul. It’s for you to name it, if you haven’t forgotten that you have a soul of your own.”