nd empress of Mongolia. Don't you think it's a good idea?"

"First rate." Worth spoke in his usual unexcited fashion, and it was
difficult to say whether he meant the oriental idea or the appearance of
the girl who stood before him. She came close and offered the cuff of
one of her sleeves to show him the embroidery, lifting a delicate chin
to display the jade buttons at the neck.

Barbara over on the other side of the room refused to meet my eye. Mrs.
Bowman, a big fur piece pulled up around her throat, shivered. I met
half a dozen Santa Ysobel people whose names I've forgotten. I could see
that Bronson Vandeman socially took the lead here, that everybody looked
to him. The room was a babel of talk, when a few minutes later the
doorbell rang in orthodox fashion, and Chung ushered Cummings in upon
the general confusion. Some of the bunch knew and spoke to him; others
didn't and had to be presented; it took the first of his time and
attention. He only got a chance for one swipe at me, a low-toned,
sarcastic,

"Made a mistake to duck me, Boyne."

I didn't think it worth while to answer that. Presently I saw him
standing with Barbara. He was evidently effecting a switch of his
theater engagement to the ball, for I heard Skeet's,

"Mr. Cummings wants a ticket! He'll need two! Ten dollars, Mr.
Cummings--five apiece."

"No, no--Skeet," Barbara laughed embarrassedly. "Mr. Cummings was just
joking. He'll not be here Saturday night."

"I'll come back for it," hand in pocket.

"It's a masquerade--" Barbara hesitated.

"Bring my costume with me from San Francisco."

"I'm not sure--" again Barbara hesitated; Skeet cut in on her,

"Why, Barbie Wallace! It's what you came to Santa Ysobel for--the Bloss.
Fes. ball. And to think of your getting a perfectly good man, right at
the last minute this way, and not having to tag on to Bronse and Ina or
something like that! I think you're the lucky girl," and she clutched
Cummings' offered payment to stow it with other funds she had collected.

At last they got themselves out of the room and left us alone with
Cummings. He had carried through his little deal with Barbara as though
it meant considerable to him, but I knew that his errand with Worth was
serious, and put in quickly,

"I intended to write or phone you to-morrow, Cummings."

"Well," the lawyer worked his mouth a bit under that bristly mustache
and looked at Worth, "it might have saved you some embarrassment if
you'