“Miss Kate Prentice owns this brand.”

“Oh—the 'Cheap Queen'!”

Bowers’s head swung as though on a pivot.

“What did you say?”

“I’ve heerd that’s what they call her.”

Bowers’s eyes narrowed as he answered:

“Not in my hearin’.” Then he added: “Nobody can knock the outfit I’m workin’ for and eat their grub while they’re doin’ it. Sabe?”

“Don’t know as I blame you,” the stranger conciliated.

“I’ll go cook,” said Bowers shortly, getting up.

The stranger urged politely: