“Is O’Gorman,” he began, and then looking past her, “—thought if the lady was here you wouldn’t be far. Say!” he arrested Miss Mar. “Has he told you there’s robbers aboard this ship?”
“Robbers? No! What makes you think—”
“There’s a woman down in the second saloon—all she’s got in the world’s been swiped.”
“But they’ve started a collection for her,” said O’Gorman.
“Yep, we’ve fixed up the collection and we’ve fixed up a Vigilance Committee. Come along, it was your idear, so let’s go and give her the money.”
“Oh, you can do that,” said O’Gorman. “But hold on a minute. Make it sixty-six for luck.” He fished in his pocket. “I guess she’s spent more than a dollar’s worth of worry.”
Hildegarde stopped by the immobile figure still reading. “That’s a good warm coat you’ve got,” she said.
“Yes”—Ruth looked up with absent eyes—“but it’s too long.”
“Is it! I should think it kept your ankles good and warm.”