ely new complexion
on affairs. Far from wishing to confront Charley, Evan now desired at
any cost to avoid him. If he could only succeed in following Charley
to the "club-house" and in trapping the elusive chief himself, what a
triumph! His heart beat fast at the very thought.

He hastened down-stairs, dreading to hear Charley's key in the door.
Nevertheless he had to linger long enough to square the girl, for if
Charley encountered her and she told him of his visitor it would spoil
all. Evan looked up and down the street. No sign of Charley yet. He
rang the bell to bring the girl.

She appeared, saying scornfully: "Oh, it's you, is it?"--but not
ill-pleased by the summons.

"I hate waiting around," said Evan.

"He'll be here any minute now."

"I'm not so keen about seeing him anyhow. I'd rather visit with you."

"Quit your kidding, Leo."

"Come on out and have a soda while I'm waiting."

She hesitated, looked up and down--and succumbed. "All right. I'll
have to hurry back. I don't need a hat."

Evan was careful to lead her towards Lexington, since it was from the
other direction Charley would presumably appear.

They had their soda, never ceasing to "con" each other in the style
that has been suggested. Sadie enjoyed it to the full; Evan on the
other hand was rather hard put to it to keep up his end, for his
thoughts were far away. His fits of abstraction rather added to his
attractiveness in the girl's eyes; she couldn't quite make him out.

His problem was how to keep her from seeing Charley before Charley left
the house for the last time, and yet be on time himself to follow
Charley when he started out.

Issuing from the drug-store, Evan suggested a short walk, to which
Sadie was nothing loath. He steered her through another street back to
Third avenue, and managed to fetch up as if by accident before a
moving-picture palace.

"Let's go in," he said carelessly. "The last show will just be
beginning."

Once more Sadie hesitated, made objections--and allowed him to brush
them away. Sadie was fascinated. Evan took her by the arm and marched
her in in masterful style. For his own ends he chose seats in that
part of the house where smoking was permitted.

To Evan's relief the picture proved to be one of which Sadie could
wholly approve, and she no longer required to be entertained. She
became absorbed in its unrolling. The hard eyes softened a little;
clearly she was lifted out of t