"Yes."

"Did you never know Ruth--"

"Miss--"

"Miss Ruth Atheson before?"

"No."

"Ever hear of her?"

"No."

"Are you really--interested in her?"

"Yes."

"Do you intend to stay interested?"

"Yes."

"I _was_ mistaken. You don't know, and I guess it's my duty to tell
you the truth. This girl is a _runaway_."

"What?" Mark was rising.

Saunders put out his hand. "Easy now, Griffin, easy now. Just wait.
I am going to tell you something. I see that you really know nothing,
and it's up to me to enlighten you. As I said, Ruth Atheson is _not_