"Now look here: do you really think any girl with a million would take a chance on me?"
"She'll jump at it."
Duncan thought this over for a while. Then his lips twitched. "What's the matter with her?" he inquired. "I'm willing to play the game as it lies, but I bar lunatics and cripples."
"There's no particular her—yet. You can take your pick. I've no more idea where she is than you have."
"Now I know you're stark, staring, gibbering——"
"Not a bit of it. I'm inspired—that's all. I've solved your problem—you only can't believe it."
"How could I? What the devil are you getting at, anyhow?"
"This pet scheme of mine. Lend me your ears. Have you ever lived in a one-horse country town—a place with one unspeakable hotel and about twenty stores and five churches?"
"No ..."
"I have; I was born in one of 'em.... Have you any idea what becomes of the young people of such towns?"