"Why in this man's town, any more than any other man's town?" the guest inquired, amused.
"What would you think of a man that would run up a three weeks' bill and then walk out there and let somebody put a bullet through him?" she returned by way of answer.
"I think it would be a mean way to beat a board bill," he told her, seriously. "Do they do that right along here?"
"One smarty from Texas done it three or four months ago. Since then it's cash in advance."
Morgan thought it was a very wise regulation for a town where perils were said to be so thick, all in keeping with the notoriety of Ascalon. He made inquiry about something to eat. The girl's face set in disfavoring cast as she tossed her head haughtily.
"Dinner's over long ago," she said.
Morgan made amends for this unwitting breach of the rules, wondering what there was in the air of Ascalon that made people combative. Even this fresh-faced girl, not twenty, he was sure, was resentful, snappish without cause, inclined to quarrel if a word got crosswise in a man's mouth. As he turned these things in mind, casting about for some place to stow his bag, the girl smiled across at him, the mockery going out of her bright eyes. Perhaps it was because she felt that she had defended the ancient right of hostelers to rise in dignified front when a traveler spoke of a meal out of the regular hour, perhaps because there was a gentleness and sincerity in the tall, honest-looking man before her that reached her with an appeal lacking in those who commonly came and went before her counter.
"Put your grip over there," she nodded, "and I'll see what I can find. If you don't mind a snack—" she hesitated.
"Anything—a slab of cold meat and a cup of coffee."
"I'll call you," she said, starting for the blue door.