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"What does it mean?"

"My dream book says to dream of a door means a journey or a new acquaintance."

"A journey or a new acquaintance," repeated Abner, touched by man's age-old sense of the mysterious fore-warnings bound up in dreams. "I wonder who it could be, or where you are going?"

Nessie exhaled a long breath. "I don't know. . . ."

They remained silent another space. Abner made an involuntary movement to get up from his chair but controlled it.

"Abner," interrupted the girl in a troubled tone.

"Yes?"

"Do you think"—she lowered her voice—"anybody knows about—us?"

Abner stopped the slight restless movements of his feet and hands and looked at her fixedly.

"No—why?"

"Well . . . I don't know . . . the way folks look at me . . . maybe I imagine it."

"I guess you must. Who?"

"O-oh, ever'body—Zed Parrum for one. He's been in the Grand two or three times lately pretendin' to want to buy ribbin—he keeps lookin' at me—I b'lieve he thinks somethin'. . . ." The girl heaved a deep sigh and searched the face of her lover.

"Zed Parrum," repeated Abner blankly. "What has he got to do with—"

"Abner," interrupted Nessie, "look at me and answer a question as you hope to save your soul. Do you promise?"

Her intensity filled Abner with misgivings.

"Y-es, what is it?"

She lowered her voice to a bare whisper.

"Abner, do I look like a—a—bad woman?"

The question shocked the teamster.

"Why, no! No! Nessie, you look like the dearest, sweetest—"