nervous
drain."

"No, Lollypop's little Bonton Tootems enjoys their fragrance. Don't
ever ask me again. I have completed the mural decoration with futurist
extravagance in the color scheme. My cloak, sir!"

He tossed it about her, and took up his hat and gold-headed stick. With
a final glance at his own careful make-up, he started after her for the
street.

"Some chikabiddy!" was the remark of the clerk to the head bell-boy. The
words reached the ears of Shirley and Helene. Her hand trembled on his
arm as they entered a waiting taxicab. She looked pathetically at him,
as she asked.

"Don't you think I am interested, sincere and loyal, to brave such
remarks as these, and the other worse things they will say before long?
I wouldn't dare do this, if I were not sure that no one in America but
you and Mr. Holloway knows me. To wear this horrid stuff on my face--to
dress in these vulgar clothes--to impersonate such a girl! You know I'm
not nearly as bad as I'm painted!"

Shirley clasped her white-gloved hand and nodded. He was studying the
pedestrians for a familiar twain of faces. He was not disappointed, as
the car swung into Broadway.

"Look--those two men have been following me wherever I have gone. They
are a pair of old-fashioned pirates. Don't forget their faces!"

CHAPTER IX. IN THE GARDEN OF TEMPTATION

Their destination, one of the score of tango tea-rooms which had sprung
to mushroom popularity within the year, was soon reached. Leaning
heavily upon his stick, limping like his aged model, and spluttering
impatiently, Shirley was assisted by the uniformed door man into the
lobby. Helene followed meekly. Four hat boys from the check-room made
the conventional scramble for his greatcoat, hat and stick, nearly
upsetting him in their eagerness. Then Shirley led the way into the half
light of the tropical, indoor garden, picking a way through the tables
to a distant wall seat, embowered with electric grapes and artificial
vines.

"Sit down, my darling child," said the pseudo Grimsby, as he dropped
into a seat behind the table, which was protected from the lights, and
furthest away from any possible visitors. "We are early, avoiding the
crush. Soon the crowd will be here. We must have some champagne at once,
to assist me in my defensive tactics. You will have to do most of the
talking. Remember, we are going to the Winter Garden musical review when
we leave here: you may tell this to whom you will."