"Two years at the University."
"And now?"
I smiled grimly, determined to admit the worst.
"Little better than a tramp, I suppose, although I have held a job lately—driving for a lumber yard across the river."
A moment she sat in silence, her eyes lowered to the table.
"What—what was that you offered the man for security?" she asked quietly.
"Oh, nothing much. It had no intrinsic value, and the fellow would not even accept it. He was willing to trust me."
"Yes, but tell me what it was? Something you valued highly?"
I felt my cheeks reddening, yet there was no reason why I should not answer.
"It was a medal, an army medal."