"I am ashamed of myself, Mr. Struve," said Virginia, coming straight to
the point. "I owe you already for a month's board and room rent for
myself and Elmer. I . . ."
"That's perfectly all right, Miss Virginia," said Struve hurriedly. "I
know the sort of job you've got on your hands making collections. If
you can wait I am willing to do so. Glad to do so, in fact."
Patten, fingering his little mustache, then letting his thick fingers
drop to the diamond in his tie, smiled with satisfaction. Smiling, he
tiptoed down the hall and went out upon the veranda where he smoked his
cigar serenely. When Virginia came out to him her face was flaming.
Had he not beard Struve's words, he would have thought that his answer
to her apology had been an angry demand for immediate payment. Patten
failed to understand how the girl's fine, independent nature writhed in
a situation all but intolerable. That she appreciated gratefully
Struve's quick kindness did not minimize her own mortification.
Patten watched her seat herself; then he launched himself into his
subject. Virginia listened at first with faint interest, then with
quickened wonder. For the life of her she could not tell if the little
man were seeking to flatter or insult her.
"I have leased an old, deserted ranch-house just on the edge of town,"
he told her.
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