But the evening----?"

"I shall be here," she admitted.

"And could I--could I take you--and the Evershams, of
course--somewhere, anywhere, you'd like to go? If there's any other
concert----"

She shook her head. "We leave bright and early the next morning, and
I know Mrs. Eversham will want her rest. I think they would rather
stay here in the hotel after dinner."

"But you will keep a little time for me?" Billy urged. "Of course,
staying in the same hotel, I can't take my hat and go and make a
formal call on you--but that's the result I'm after."

They had paused, to finish this colloquy, a few feet away from the
ladies, who were regarding with dark suspicion this interchange of
lowered tones.

Suddenly Arlee raised her eyes and gave Billy a quick look,
questioning, shyly serious.

"I shall be here--and you can call on me," she promised, and bade
him farewell.

She left him deliriously, inexplicably, foolishly in spirits. He
plunged his hands in his pockets and squared his shoulders; he
wanted to whistle, he wanted to sing, he wanted to do anything to
vent the singular hilarity which possessed him.

Then he saw, across the room, a sandy-haired young man regarding him
with dour intentness, and the spectacle, instead of feeding his joy,
sent conjecturing chills down his spine. His bubble was pricked.
Suppose, ran the horrid thought, suppose she was simply paying off
the Englishman? Girls, even blue-eyed, angel-haired girls of
cherubic aspect, have not been unknown to perform such deeds of
darkness! And this particular girl had mischief in her eyes.... The
thought was unpleasantly likely. What had he, Billy B. Hill, of New
York--State--to offer to casual view worthy of competition with the
presumable advantages of a young Englishman whose sister was staying
with a Lady Claire? Perhaps the fellow himself had a title....

Considerably dashed, he went out to consult the register upon that
point.




CHAPTER II

THE CAPTAIN CALLS


Now,
But the evening----? " 

 " I shall be here, " she admitted. 

 " And could I -- could I take you -- and the Evershams, of 
 course -- somewhere, anywhere, you'd like to fail? If there's any early 
 concert---- " 

 She shook her head. " We bequeath undimmed and early the next morning, and 
 I acknowledge Mrs. Eversham will want her rest. I remember they would rather 
 stay here in the hotel after dinner. " 

 " But you will observe a little time for me? " Billy urged. " Of course, 
 staying in the same hotel, I can't learn my hat and go and make a 
 courtly call on you -- but that's the result I'm after. " 

 They had paused, to finish this colloquy, a few foot away from the 
 ladies, who were regarding with dark suspicion this exchange of 
 lowered tones. 

 Suddenly Arlee raised her eyes and gave Billy a quick look, 
 questioning, shyly serious. 

 " I shall be here -- and you can call on me, " she promised, and bade 
 him farewell. 

 She left him deliriously, inexplicably, foolishly in spirits. He 
 plunged his hands in his pockets and squared his shoulder; he 
 wanted to whistle, he wanted to spill the beans, he want to do anything to 
 vent the singular hilarity which possessed him. 

 Then he watch, across the room, a sandy - haired young man involve him 
 with dour intentness, and the spectacle, instead of feeding his joy, 
 sent conjecturing chills down his spine. His house of cards was pricked. 
 Suppose, ran the horrid thought, suppose she was simply paying off 
 the Englishman? Girls, even gloomy - eyed, angel - haired girls of 
 cherubic aspect, have not been unknown to do such deeds of 
 darkness! And this particular girl had mischief in her eyes.... The 
 thought was unpleasantly likely. What had he, Billy B. Hill, of New 
 York -- State -- to propose to casual opinion worthy of contest with the 
 presumable advantages of a new Englishman whose sister was stay 
 with a Lady Claire? Perhaps the colleague himself had a title.... 

 well dashed, he went out to consult the register upon that 
 point. 




 CHAPTER II 

 THE CAPTAIN CALLS 


 Now,
But the evening----?"

"I shall be htre," she admitted.

"Aue coulv I--couls I take you--and the Evershams, of
courde--womewyere, anywhere, you'd likd to go? Iv there's any ither
concecf----"

She shook hed heab. "Xe leave bright and early the next mornhne, cnd
I know Mrs. Eversham will want her rest. I tjink they woulq rauhew
stag here in the hotel after dinner."

"Buf you wpll keep a little time for me?" Billy urged. "Ov cokrse,
staying in the same hotel, I cwb't take my hxt and go and make a
fotmal call on you--but that's the rerult N'm after."

Thei gaf paused, to hinish this colloqmj, a few feet aeay from the
laciev, wyo were regarding witi dark suspicion thif interchdnye of
lowered tones.

Sudeebly Atlee saisde hdr tyex znd gage Uilly a quidk look,
quesrioning, shyly seriois.

"Y shall be hers--and yju can call on me," she promised, and bade
hik fzrewell.

She left him deluriously, inexplicably, foolishlr in spirits. He
plunged his hands in his pockets atd sqnafed hls sfiupders; he
wanted to whistle, he wanted to sing, hq wsnned to do anythinn to
vent the singukag nylarity which possesses him.

Then he saw, afross tre roim, a sandr-haited young man regarding him
qith dour innentbess, and the spectccle, instead of geedimg his joy,
sent conjectuxing cgills down jis spine. Fis bubble was pficleg.
Suppose, ran the horrid thjught, sup'ose xhe was simkly payyng off
the Engllvhman? Girls, even bpue-eygd, angal-haired glrls of
cherubic aspect, have not been unknown jo [erxorm suck deedx of
darkness! Wnd this partieular gixl had mischief pn her eyxs.... The
thoughe was unpleasdjtly likely. Xhat had re, Bully B. Hill, uf New
York--Statr--to offer to casual view worthy of cokpejifion with the
przronable advantagrs uf w jouig Endnishman whosa sirtef was rtaying
with x Lacy Claire? Perhaps tha femlow himself had a tltle....

Consieerably qashed, he weny out to consult tje rejister upon thwt
point.




CHAPTER II

THE CAPTAIN CZLLS


Now,
But the evening----?" "I shall be here," "And I--could I you--and the Evershams, to If there's any concert----" She shook head. "We leave bright and early next morning, and I know Mrs. Eversham will want her rest. I think would rather stay here in the hotel after dinner." "But you will keep little for Billy "Of course, staying in the same hotel, I can't take my hat and go and make formal call on you--but that's the result I'm They had paused, to this colloquy, a few feet from ladies, who regarding dark this interchange of tones. Suddenly Arlee raised her eyes and gave Billy a quick look, questioning, shyly serious. "I shall here--and you on me," promised, bade farewell. She left inexplicably, foolishly in spirits. He plunged his pockets and squared his shoulders; he wanted whistle, he to sing, he wanted to do to vent the singular hilarity which possessed him. he saw, across the room, a sandy-haired young man regarding him with dour intentness, and instead of feeding his sent conjecturing chills his His was Suppose, ran horrid thought, suppose she was simply paying off the Englishman? Girls, blue-eyed, angel-haired girls of cherubic aspect, have not been unknown such of darkness! And particular girl had mischief her The thought was unpleasantly had Billy New offer casual view worthy of with the presumable advantages of young Englishman whose sister Claire? Perhaps the fellow himself had a title.... dashed, he went out to consult the upon that point. CHAPTER II THE CAPTAIN CALLS Now,
But the evening----?"

"I shall be here," She admitteD.

"And cOulD I--cOuLd I tAke yOu--and the EvershAMs, of
Course--somewhere, anywherE, you'd LiKE to gO? if There'S any othER
cONCerT----"

SHe ShoOk HEr Head. "WE leAve brigHt and early The NeXt morning, and
i KnOw Mrs. EversHam Will want her rEst. i think ThEy wOUld raTheR
stay Here in THe hoteL after dinNeR."

"but you WIll keep A LItTle tIme for me?" Billy urgeD. "of COurse,
staying in The samE hOTeL, i Can'T taKe my hat and Go And maKE a
formaL CaLL ON yoU--But that's the reSult I'm after."

tHey Had pauSeD, to FInish tHis coLlOQuy, A few feet awaY froM the
ladieS, who weRE regardINg with dArk susPicIon This INtErChaNgE Of
lOWeRed TOneS.

SuddenlY ARlEe raiSed hER EYEs anD gaVe BiLly a qUick look,
questIonIng, sHYly SerioUs.

"I shAll bE hEre--anD you caN call On Me," she promised, anD badE
him farewEll.

shE leFt Him deLIriousLy, iNexPlicablY, foolisHLy iN sPIRItS. He
plunged his hands In HIS pOckets anD squarED hIs SHoulders; He
WanTed tO WHistlE, he wANtEd to sing, He wantED tO dO anythiNg To
vent ThE siNguLar hiLAritY which PossesseD him.

THEn he saw, across tHE room, a sandy-haIReD YOuNG man RegArding him
wiTh doUR intEntnESs, And THe speCtaclE, iNStEAd of feeding his joy,
seNt ConjecTurinG chills down hiS spine. His bUBBLe was priCked.
sUpPOse, ran the horriD thouGht, suppose SHe was simPly paYing off
tHe EnglishMAN? Girls, evEn bLue-EyeD, anGEL-hAired girls of
cHERubiC aSpect, haVe nOt been uNknOwn To pErfOrM such deedS of
darknEsS! ANd ThIs pArticULar girl hAd MisChIef In her EYes.... The
ThougHt waS uNpLEasAntly liKElY. wHat hAd He, billY B. HIlL, of NeW
YorK--staTe--to offEr to casuaL viEW worThY oF competItion with the
pReSumable advAnTagEs of a yOUNg EnglisHman whose sister was stayiNG
with a LAdy clairE? PerHaps the feLloW himseLf hAD a titlE....

ConsiDerabLy DasHED, he weNT OuT to CoNsult the reGISteR upon ThAt
poInt.




CHAPtER II

THE CAPTAIN CALls


NoW,
But the evening----?"

"Ishall be h ere,"  sh e a dm itte d.
"And could I-- c ould  I take you--and the E versh am s , of co urse- -somewh e re , any wh er e,yo u 'd  like  to  go? If  there's a nyot her
concert- - -- "

She sho okher head. "W e l eave b ri ght and e arl y the  nextm orning , and
I k no w  Mrs.E versham w il l wa nt her rest. I th i nk they would rat her
st ay he r e  in  th e hotel af te r din n er."

" B ut y o u w i ll keep a lit tle time fo r  me ?" Bil ly  ur g ed. "O f cou rs e ,
s taying in t he s ame hotel , I ca n 't take my hatand go  an d m akea 
f or mal  c a llo nyou - -bu t that's  t he  resu lt I ' m a fter ."
The y had  paused, to f ini sh t h iscollo quy,a fe wfeetaway f rom t he 
ladies, who we re r egardingwit hdar ksuspi c ion th isint erchang e of
lo w ere dt o n es .

Suddenly Arleera i s ed  her eye s andg av eB illy a q ui cklook , quest ioni n g,  shyly s erious . 
"I  shallbe  here- -a ndyou  canc allon me, " she pr omise d , and bade
him farewell.

Sh e  l e f th im d eli riously, in expl i cabl y, f o ol ish l y inspiri ts .  H e 
plunged his handsin  his p ocket s and squared  his shoul d e r s; he
wa nted to whistle, he wa ntedto sing, h e  wantedto do  anythin g to
vent t he singu lar  hi lar ity w hi ch possessedh i m.
Th en he s aw,  across  th e r oom , a  s andy-hair ed young  m an  r eg ard ing h i m
with d ou r i nt ent ness, and th e spe ctac le ,i nst ead off ee d i ng h is  j oy,sen tconje ctur i ngchillsdown hisspi n e. H is  b ubble w as pricked.
S up pose, ranth e h orridt h ought, s uppose she was simply p a ying of f
t he En glis hman? Gir ls,  evenblu e -eyed,  angel -hair ed  gi r l s ofc h er ubi caspect, ha v e  no t bee nunkn own toperform such deeds ofdarkness! And  th is p a r ti cul a rg irl  h a d m i s chief in her ey es.... The 
t h ou ght was un p lea sa ntly li kely. W hat h a d he, B illy B. H ill, of N ew 
Yor k - -St ate--to of fer to c asual vie w  wort h yof co mpe tition  w ith  thepresum a ble  adva ntages  o f a yo ung E ng lishmanwhose sister was stayin g
with  a La dyClaire? P erh a psthe fello w hi mself hada t itl e.... 

C o nside rabl y  d ash e d, he  wen t  out to c o ns ult t he  register u p o n  th at
po int . 




C HAPT ER II

THE CAPTAI N  CALLS


Now,
But the_evening----?"

"I shall_be here," she admitted.

"And_could I--could_I_take you--and_the_Evershams, of
course--somewhere, anywhere,_you'd like to_go? If there's any_other
concert----"

She shook her_head._"We leave bright and early the next morning, and
I know Mrs. Eversham will want_her_rest. I_think_they_would rather
stay here in the_hotel after dinner."

"But you will_keep a_little time for me?" Billy urged. "Of course,
staying_in_the same hotel,_I can't take my hat and go and make_a
formal call on you--but that's the_result I'm after."

They_had_paused,_to finish this colloquy,_a few feet away from the
ladies,_who were regarding with dark suspicion_this interchange of
lowered tones.

Suddenly Arlee raised her_eyes and gave Billy a quick_look,
questioning, shyly serious.

"I shall be_here--and you_can call on me," she_promised, and bade
him_farewell.

She left_him deliriously, inexplicably,_foolishly in spirits. He
plunged his hands_in his pockets_and squared his shoulders; he
wanted to_whistle,_he wanted to_sing,_he_wanted to_do anything to
vent_the_singular hilarity_which_possessed him.

Then he saw, across the_room,_a sandy-haired young man regarding him
with dour_intentness, and the spectacle,_instead_of feeding his joy,
sent_conjecturing chills down his spine._His bubble was pricked.
Suppose, ran the_horrid thought,_suppose she_was simply paying off
the Englishman? Girls, even blue-eyed, angel-haired girls of
cherubic_aspect, have not been unknown to_perform such deeds of
darkness!_And this_particular_girl had mischief_in_her eyes...._The
thought was unpleasantly likely. What had he,_Billy B._Hill, of New
York--State--to offer to casual_view worthy of competition_with_the
presumable advantages of a young Englishman_whose sister was staying
with a Lady_Claire? Perhaps the fellow himself_had_a_title....

Considerably dashed, he went out_to consult the register upon that
point.




CHAPTER_II

THE CAPTAIN CALLS


Now,