riage mean and inconspicuous.
Mary was slim and held herself as though no failure or self-depreciation had ever come near her. There was something fine about her. There was something which Gibbons, for want of some better word, told himself was class.
And the brown eyes which looked at him under level brows raised a doubt in his mind as to the successful outcome of the scheme which was working in his crafty head. He first set himself to disarm her by the adoption of the air of an old and privileged friend.
Earning Her Money
"So this is little Mary Unwin," he exclaimed, shaking her hand. "Well! Well!"
It was a banal beginning, the girl thought. But she smiled. There must be something good in a man whom her father had liked.
"So you want to go to Smith?" he went on.
He could see her vivid interest now.
"More than anything on earth," she answered. She leaned forward and clasped her long slender hands nervously. "I don't suppose you can ever guess how much I want it."
"Perhaps I can," he smiled. "Your father helped me to understand." He chatted on pleasantly enough of his college days; and he was wise in talking of the distinctions Unwin had gained. She was proud of that. It was almost with distress that she saw how fast the minutes had sped.
"What’s the matter?" he asked, seeing her look.
"I must go back, Mr. Radway is very busy and gave me only an hour."
"Why go back?" he returned. "Eighteen dollars a week isn't much to hurry back for, is it?"
"I need it," she said, rising.
"Sit down," he insisted. "You may need it, but it isn't going to take you to Smith or your brother to the Tech." His air was now one of delight in well-doing. There was born in her heart a fluttering hope that for old friendship's sake he was going to help her.
The cheeks that were usually pale took to themselves a lovely flush. She could not bring herself to ask what he meant for fear of meeting disappointment. It was good to hope after so much despair.
"I told your father I would help you. The world knows me as a hard man, but it knows me for a man of my word. I'm going to help you and your brother."
"Oh, Mr. Gibbons," she cried, "I can't believe it. It is one of those things too good to be true! How can Bob and I ever thank you enough?"
He looked at her keenly. This was the ripe moment.
"You would like to feel you earned the money, rather than be under a monetary obligation to me? Is that what you mean?"
He Was a Hawk
It had not so presented itself to her, and she felt ashamed that she had accepted without even a thought of actual repayment.
"Of course," she replied, "I should expect to earn it. But how can I?"
It was the hawk who looked at her now. The glance was rather frightening, and when it was succeeded by the benevolent smile, she thought she had imagined it.
He leaned over the glass-topped table. The fleeting fear that he was one of those who forced attentions on young girls was banished, It was a cold look he bent on her.
"You can," he said, "You can very easily repay me for the few thousand dollars your education will cost. First, you must leave Radway and come here. You can earn what you and Bob need in a week's work."
"But that is impossible," she cried. "How?"
