"But if you're here for chow you're too late." "Ma'am," said Buck Daniels instantly, "when I come in here I was hungry enough to eat nails; but I'll forget about chuck if you'll sit down an' chin with me a while." The large hand of the cross-eyed lady stole out once more and rested upon the sugar-bowl.
"D'you mind sayin' that over agin ?" she queried.
"Lonesomeness is worse'n hunger," said Buck Daniels, and he met her gaze steadily with his black eyes.
The hand released the sugar-bowl once more; something resembling colour stole into the brown cheeks of the maiden.
She said, relentingly: "Maybe you been off by yourse'f mining, stranger ?" Buck Daniels drew a long breath.
"Mines ?" he said, and then laughed bitterly.

"If that was all I been doin'-- " he began darkly--and then stopped.
The waitress started.
"Maybe this here is my last chance to get chuck for days an' days.

Well, let it go.

If I stayed here with you I'd be talkin' too much!" He turned slowly towards the door.

His step was very slow indeed.
"Wait a minute," called the maiden.