She came out West first to teach school, and then she got mixed up with some skunk of a man who pretended to marry her when he had a wife living in Chicago, and after that I guess she went on taking a dope just to keep up her spirits and ease the pain of some spinal trouble she'd had since she was a child.

There was nothing bad in her--she was just weak--and I began to feel sorry for her, and so I did it.

If I had it to do over again, I'm not so sure I'd act differently.

She was a poor little creature that didn't have any man to look after her, and I was just muddling along anyway, thinking about money.

Heaven knows what would have become of her if I hadn't happened along when I did." He had lifted his head toward the light, while he ran his hand through his hair, and again she saw the look, so like spiritual exaltation, transfigure his face.