“Oh, I don’t mind,” she said, between inhalations of cigarette smoke, “but you see a girl don’t like to break open and tell some stranger all she knows about herself.”
“Go on,” said the man, confidently, “I am very much interested. But first,” he added, “how much time have you? For if you are in danger of being interrupted, we had best make an appointment to meet later.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said the girl in a hard, bantering tone; “you see we girls are allowed the privilege of entertaining friends, in fact, salary cuts such a small figure in this joint, that it is absolutely necessary for us to get some money on the side.”
“But I hope you don’t expect to get any money from me for just talking with you; of course I will buy drinks, lunch or anything you like, but there is where I draw the line. You see I am only a curiosity seeker.”
“In that case,” said the girl, “I must leave you, for if I am not on the stage at the call, the manager will have a kick coming.”
“How do you appease his wrath when you stay away, that is to say, when you are getting the money?”
“Oh, that’s different,” said the girl, rising. “I always cut it with him.”
“Oh, I see,” said the man, musingly. “How much does it take to satisfy him?”
“Oh, I guess I can fix him for a dollar.”