It was like drawing her back from another world. Visibly disappointed, she started toward the store. "How did you get the train to stop here? It never did before. The trains run past here as though they were afraid," she said, more as audible thought. "Are you coming back?" she asked wistfully.
"Yes, I will come to-morrow," I replied. Then swung on the train and waved back at the lonely little figure standing beside the track.
I dropped into a seat, thoughtful indeed. If there was anything wrong with that little girl, her father and his business, then my years of training had been wasted. I thought of what the judge told me when he gave me the warrants. On the way back to Key West I formed a plan.
In front of the hotel in Key West I found Ike Barry. "Ike, you sell from a catalog, don't you?"
"Yes—why?"
"If you will loan me your catalog I'll get an order to-morrow, and won't charge you anything but some smokes."
Ike was agreeable and explained the uniform discount on the catalog price as we drank at the soda fountain.
I was hurrying to my room to change back to working clothes, when I saw Scotty of the night before, in the lobby. He was in good clothes and bad liquor, or both. I tried to dodge him until I could get back in working garb but the light of recognition appeared in the little eyes under the deep shelf. He arose and stood near me. I was sure of the liquor then and it did not take long to develop the trouble.
"I had half a slant after you had gone last night that this was your lay," he began, after we were seated in a corner of the bar room.