"It isn't true," she admitted.
"At least it's as good as any other."
"It is better than my other."
"What do you do for a living?"
That was a poser. For a moment she hesitated, then she said, "I'm a salesgirl."
"What do you sell?"
"That depends on what you want to buy."
He rose to his feet and put his arm about her shoulder. "I think we're going to get along first rate," he said.
"Well go and sit down," she told him, "and we'll get along better. I was just joking. This house is so cozy and homelike it put me in a good humor. As a matter of fact, I'm out of work."
"You need money?" he asked.
"No," she replied quickly, "so don't make a bid for my virtue. I've got enough money to get along. And I intend to get a long way on it."
"You're not married."
"Thank God, no. Nor do I ever intend to be. I want to be free. I want to live my own life without anybody raising silly objections. At present I have only one desire. I want to get away from wherever I am. I don't know what this place is called, but nevertheless I want to get away."
"This is my home," he drawled.
"You know I don't mean that," she said a trifle irritably. "I mean I've got to get away from this town. If it is a town."
He puffed at his cigar before he spoke. "Say," he suggested, "how'd you like to stay here with me tonight? No harm meant, you know. Merely thinking of your safety. The doors are strong and nobody could get in."
"But could I get out?" she asked.
"Naturally, if you wanted to."
She shook her head. "I don't want to. I trust you absolutely. You're quite nice, I think."
"Tomorrow morning I'm leaving for Peoria on business. Of that you can rest assured. Nobody ever goes to Peoria except on business or for monkey business. You could go along if you wanted to."
17
