his mundane sphere of rooming-houses and
attractive, fresh young men you had to be careful with, into a realm of
peculiar magnificence.

Meanwhile Evan watched the illuminated clock with which the proprietor
thoughtfully provided his patrons, and made his calculations. He had
to figure closely. He knew that all these picture houses let out at
eleven, and they were only five minutes' walk from the rooming-house.
If the show was over a little early to-night, or if Charley was a
little late in starting, all his careful planning would go for nothing.

At ten minutes to eleven the drama was still going strong, with
everything as yet unexplained. Evan whispered to his companion.

"I'm out of smokes. Excuse me while I get a pack at the stand."

She nodded without taking her eyes from the screen. She did not mark
that he took his hat with him. He stopped not at the cigar-stand, but
made his way out of the theatre. There was little chance of her
following while any of the fascinating drama remained unrevealed.

He stopped in a haberdasher's and bought three of the largest size
handkerchiefs for a grim purpose. Back in Thirty-ninth street he
concealed himself in the area-way of a vacant house across the street
from the rooming-house. Now, if only Sadie did not come back before
Charley went out, and if an inquisitive policeman did not put a crimp
in his plans!

A church clock struck eleven, and Charley appeared almost upon the last
stroke. He slammed the door after him, and his feet twittered down the
steps in style peculiarly his own. He stopped on the pavement to light
a cigarette--and incidentally to look warily up and down the street.
Reassured, he started quickly towards Lexington. He was an easy man to
trail, gait and appearance were both so marked. Evan could hardly lose
that cheap Panama hat cocked at a slightly rakish angle.

Evan let him get around the corner before he ventured out of his
hiding-place. As Evan himself reached the corner of Lexington he
looked back and saw Sadie turning into the block from Third. "A close
shave!" he thought.

Charley was still visible hastening North with his loose-jointed
stride, his "kangaroo lope" Evan had called it. He turned West in
Forty-second street. This was an advantage to Evan, for Forty-second
street is crowded at this hour. Charley took the more crowded
sidewalk, and Evan kept the Panama in view from across the street.

They crossed the whole centr