attack. I wonder--would you be willing to come up to my room with
me--help make a cup of tea for us and--stay with me a little while?"

Again for the minute, no reply. Then the girl turned hotly upon her,
suspicion, resentment--was it hatred, too?--in her eyes. But what she saw
was as a child's face--wide eyes, beseeching mouth. Women who wondered
"what in the world men saw in Katie Jones" might have wondered less had
they seen her then.

The girl did not seem to know what to say. Suddenly she was trembling
from head to foot.

Kate laid a hand upon the quivering arm. "I've frightened you," she said
regretfully and tenderly. "You need the tea, too. You'll come?"

The girl's eyes roved all around like the furtive eyes of a frightened
animal. But they came back to Katie's steadying gaze. "Why yes--I'll
come--if you want me to," she said in voice she was clearly making
supreme effort to steady.

"I do indeed," said Kate simply and led the way into the house.




CHAPTER II


And now that they were face to face across a tea-table Miss Jones was
bunkered again. How get out of the sand? She did not know. She did not