They're all over. There's one in Shanghai. I thought it would be a good clean place to stop at here, so that was how I happened to see the notice of the entertainment from the Ladies' Alliance, where you and me met. I kind of wanted to meet some nice American young ladies. There used to be some nice girls at the academy, though I never dared to more than look at them. I was kind of hungry I guess, miss, that night you got my number—to know somebody like you, and I've been getting kind of hungrier since, I'm afraid. That's why I took such a liberty last night, before you knew anything about me. I hope you'll excuse it. I hope you'll understand too," he hurried on, "that when I offer myself to you, it isn't with any notion I'm worthy of such as you. It's just to prove my high and honorable feelings. You've only to kick me into the gutter," he laughed, or tried to, "but—if you'll be so good as not to do it to-night, please—not to be unkind to-night."
"I don't want to be unkind to you—ever," said Reba, earnestly.
"Oh, miss," he burst forth, "if I could but think you were wishing me well, back here! I'm off next week—not on the 'Louise.' I'm part owner now on a freighter—an old bark, but tight and sea-worthy—the 'Ellen T. Robinson.' She's going to ply between ports in the South Pacific, where I'm familiar; and we've got a cargo for her at last, so we won't have to run her in ballast round Cape Horn. I've put all I've got into the 'Ellen T. Robinson.' She may bring me big money. If she does—if she should—oh, miss," he tossed the gravel in his hand far off into some grass, and rubbed his palms together hard. "I'll be
