Her voice had risen sharply. Starratt was sure that everybody could
hear.

"I haven't got three dollars," he insisted, in a low voice. "Can't you
see that I haven't?"

"Ask your wife, then."

"She hasn't a cent... I should have cashed a check to-day, but I
forgot... You forget things sometimes, don't you?"

He was conscious that his voice had drawn out in a snuffling appeal,
but he simply had to placate this female ogress in some way.

"Ask your swell friends, then."

"Why, I can't do that... I don't know them well enough. This is the
first time--"

She cut him short with a snap of her ringers. "You don't know me,
either ... and I don't know you. That's the gist of the whole thing.
If you can ask a strange woman who's done an honest night's work to
wait for her money, you can ask a strange man to lend you sixty
cents... And, what's more, I'll wait right here until you do!"

"Well, wait then!" he flung out, suddenly, as he pocketed the silver.

He kicked open the swinging door and gained the dining room. She
followed close upon his heels.