And it was Bob Hampton who strolled carelessly
out upon the darkened porch an hour later, leaving a roar of laughter
behind him, and an enemy as well. Little he cared for that, however,
in his present mood, and he stood there, amid the black shadows,
looking contemptuously down upon the stream of coatless humanity
trooping past on pleasure bent, the blue smoke circling his head, his
gray eyes glowing half angrily. Suddenly he leaned forward, clutching
the rail in quick surprise.
"Kid," he exclaimed, harshly, "what does this mean? What are you doing
alone here?"
She stopped instantly and glanced up, her face flushing in the light
streaming forth from the open door of the Occidental.
"I reckon I 'm alone here because I want to be," she returned,
defiantly. "I ain't no slave. How do you get up there?"
He extended his hand, and drew her up beside him into the shaded
corner. "Well," he said, "tell me the truth."
"I 've quit, that's all, Bob. I just couldn't stand for reform any
longer, and so I 've come back here to you."
The man drew a deep breath. "Did n't you like Mrs. Herndon?"
"Oh, she 's all right enough, so far as that goes.
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