igold was
indulging herself in a delighted, albeit highly amused, inspection
of sundry large boxes which had been arriving from shops in the
neighborhood.

"As nearly as I can imagine this must look like the bower of a Broadway
Phryne. All that is missing is a family portrait in crayon of the father
who was a coal miner, the presence of a buxom financial genius for the
stage mother, and a Chinese chow-dog on a cerise velvet cushion. But who
ever attains perfection here below?"

She lifted some filmy gowns which had arrived in the latest parcel
to her chin, peering over the sheerness of the lacy cascade, into the
mirror of the dressing-table.

"If good old Jack could see me now? Poor, old, stupid, dear, silly
Jack! I must write to him at once, for he is largely responsible for my
present unusual surroundings. How pleased this would not make him, the
old dear."

With the thought, she sat down before the escritoire, dipping a pearl
and gold pen, as she paused for the words with which to begin the note.
Another knock came at the door. It could not be another gown. She had
told Holloway to keep all her personal baggage at the steamer dock
until she had finished her lark! At the portal a diminutive messenger
delivered a large white box, ornately bound in lavender ribbons. When
she unwrapped it, hidden in the folds of many reams of delicate tissue,
she found a gorgeous bunch of orchids.

"How beautiful! I wonder who could have--" then she found a white card,
and read it aloud, with a mirthful peal of laughter.

"To Lollypop's little Bonbon Tootems--from her foolish old Da-Da!"

Helene turned toward the window, to gaze out over the mysterious,
foreign motley array of roofs and obtruding skyscrapers of this curious
district.

"This mysterious man plays his part with a sense of humor. If only he
will be different and not mean the flowers, ever!"

And she forgot to finish the note which was to have gone to faraway,
stupid, dear old Jack.

Ten minutes later an aged gentleman entered the gorgeous foyer of the
Hotel California, impatiently presenting his card to the bell-boy,
for announcement to Miss Marigold. The lad, true to tradition, quietly
confided the name to the interested clerk, before doing so. As the
visitor was shown to the elevator, the clerk turned to his assistant
with a nudge.

"There's the easiest spender of the Lobster Club. That means good trade
here, with this new peach in the crate. These old ginks