tacking me up against?"

"Box party at the Grand. Here, have a cigar. Just a family affair,
you know. First night; certain to be a swell crowd there; everything
sold out in advance. Supper afterwards, private dining-room at the
Annex--just ourselves; no guests, except only the Star and her manager."

"The Star? I never heard that you people went in for theatricals?"

"Lord! they never did; but they 've experienced a change of heart. You
see, Lizzie took to it like a duck to water--she was the baby, the kid,
you know--and, by thunder, the little girl made good. She 's got 'em
coming and going, and the pater is so proud of her he wears a smile on
him that won't come off. It 's simply great just to see him beau her
around downtown, shedding real money at every step. Nothing is too
good for Lizzie just now."

"And she is the Star?"

"Sure, and the lassie is going to have an ovation, unless all signs
fail. Society has got a hunch, and that means a gorgeous turnout. The
horse-show will be a back number. Lord, man, you can't afford to miss
it! Why, you 'd never see anything like it in Denver in a thousand
years."

Winston laughed, unable to resist entirely the contagious enthusiasm of
his friend.

"You certainly make a strong bid, Bob; but really if I did remain
overnight I 'd much prefer putting in the hours talking over old times.
With all due respect to your sister, old boy, I confess I have n't very
much heart for the stage. I 've grown away from it; have n't even
looked into a playhouse for years."

"Thought as much; clear over the head in business. Big mistake at your
age. A night such as Lizzie can give you will be a revelation. Say,
Ned, that girl is an actress. I don't say it because she 's my sister,
but she actually is; they 're all raving over her, even the critics.
That's one reason why I want you to stay. I 'm blame proud of my
little sister."

"But I have n't my evening dress within a thousand miles of here."

"What of that? I have no time now to run out to the house and get into
mine. I 'm no lightning change artist. Lizzie won't care; she 's got
good sense, and the others can go hang. Come on, Ned; we 'll run over
to the Chicago Club and have a bite, then a smoke and chat about Alma
Mater; after that, the Grand."

* * * * * *

The great opera house was densely crowded from pit to dome, the boxes
and parquet brilliant with color and fashion, t